The most famous artists with works in the Petit Palais are Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Eugène Delacroix and Gustave Courbet.
Our catalogue lists 1,633 works of the Petit Palais by 523 artists; the 25 best known are ranked below, each with the works the museum holds.
The masters of the originals
The 10 masters whose originals hang in the Petit Palais
For each master: where and when they were born, their movement, how many originals the museum keeps in our catalogue, a note from their life, and the originals to see.
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Post-Impressionism
1. Paul Cézanne 1839–1906
1839–1906 Born in Aix-en-Provence, France Post-Impressionism 6 originals at the Petit Palais
Born on January 19, 1839, at 28 rue de l'Opéra in Aix-en-Provence, Paul Cézanne entered a world of established order. In 1860, he made the decisive choice to abandon his law studies, turning his focus entirely toward the pursuit of painting. By 1859, his technical proficiency was evident when he earned second prize in the school's figure studies course.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Post-Impressionism
2. Paul Gauguin 1848–1903
1848–1903 Born in Paris, France Post-Impressionism 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Born in Paris in 1848, Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin entered a world of shifting social and political currents. The boy spent his childhood in Peru until the age of six, a period that left an indelible mark on his memory. Before finding his footing in the art world, Gauguin’s life took a more rugged, maritime turn. Between 1879 and 1886, he was accepted into the Paris Salon, appearing in the prestigious exhibition annually.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Romanticism
3. Eugène Delacroix 1798–1863
1798–1863 Born in Saint-Maurice, France Romanticism 7 originals at the Petit Palais
The lineage of Eugène Delacroix is rooted in a blend of craftsmanship and diplomacy. Through him, the artist received numerous anonymous commissions, allowing his work to circulate through elite circles under a veil of discretion.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Realism
4. Gustave Courbet 1819–1877
1819–1877 Born in Ornans, France Realism 14 originals at the Petit Palais
Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet was born on June 10, 1819, in Ornans, France. Growing up in the department of Doubs, his early years were shaped by the landscape of his home. In 1839, he moved to Paris. Later, Bruyas commissioned The Meeting, also known as Bonjour Monsieur Courbet, which reflected this established connection between patron and painter. In 1855, rather than retreating, Courbet took a more direct approach to his audience.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Impressionism
5. Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841–1919
1841–1919 Born in Limoges, France Impressionism 8 originals at the Petit Palais
Born on February 25, 1841, in Limoges, France, Pierre-Auguste Renoir entered a world of practical craftsmanship. In 1845, the family moved to Paris, seeking the opportunities offered by the capital. When the family moved to Paris in 1845, the necessity of supporting his kin dictated the direction of his youth. By the third exhibition in 1877, his commitment to this new way of seeing was evident as he presented twenty-one paintings to the public.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Neoclassicism
6. Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres 1780–1867
1780–1867 Born in Montauban, France Neoclassicism 3 originals at the Petit Palais
Even while immersed in the Italian tradition, he maintains a connection to the French art scene, regularly sending paintings back to the Paris Salon to ensure his presence in the capital remains constant.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Romanticism
7. Théodore Géricault 1791–1824
1791–1824 Born in Rouen, France Romanticism 3 originals at the Petit Palais
From 1810 to 1815, the Louvre became Géricault's true academy. Inspired by the harrowing true story of the shipwreck of the French frigate Méduse in 1816, where negligence and incompetence led to unimaginable suffering for its passengers, the painting is a visceral portrayal of desperation, hope, and despair.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Romanticism
8. Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot 1796–1875
1796–1875 Born in Paris, France Romanticism 2 originals at the Petit Palais
French Realist of atmospheric landscapes and soft vegetation, using thin washes and loosely dabbed strokes to capture the play of light. Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was born in Paris in 1796. Between 1821 and 1822, he studied under Achille Etna Michallon.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Impressionism
9. Berthe Morisot 1841–1895
1841–1895 Born in Bourges, France Impressionism 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Berthe Morisot was born on 14 January 1841 in Bourges, France. By 1858, she was spending her time in the Louvre, learning the mechanics of paint by copying the Old Masters. It opened on 15 April and ran until 15 May 1874. The boundaries between Morisot’s private life and her art were often blurred. In 1868, she became acquainted with Édouard Manet, a connection that grew into a deep mutual influence.
Originals at the Petit Palais
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Post-Impressionism
10. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 1864–1901
1864–1901 Born in Albi, France Post-Impressionism 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Born on November 24, 1864, in Albi, France, Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec entered a world of significant social standing. Born into the French aristocracy, Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa entered a world of significant privilege. After a period spent in Albi, he returned to Paris in 1882 to continue his studies under Bonnat.
Originals at the Petit Palais
The masters, continued
No. 11 to No. 25: more masters of the Petit Palais
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11. Camille Pissarro
Impressionism
1830–1903 · born in Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
Danish-French Impressionist who captured rural life and city streets through textured plein air landscapes and pointillist experiments.
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12. Alfred Sisley
Impressionism
1839–1899 · born in former 4th arrondissement of Paris, France · 4 originals at the Petit Palais
British-French Impressionist dedicated to en plein air landscapes, capturing the tranquil light of the Seine and the waters of Moret-sur-Loing.
- The Pit Sawyers (1876)
- The Tugboat (1883)
- Avenue of Chestnut Trees near La Celle Saint Cloud (1865)
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French Rococo painter of luminous, pastel mythological scenes and idyllic landscapes, known for his voluptuous and amorous subjects.
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14. Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Rococo
1732–1806 · born in Grasse, France · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
French Rococo painter of playful, sensual scenes rendered with luminous, rapid brushwork and a sense of exuberant, fleeting movement.
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French Symbolist of dreamlike mythological scenes rendered with rich textures and gold leaf, capturing the spiritual essence of ancient stories.
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French Realist known for biting political lithographs and empathetic scenes of Parisian life, from the third-class carriage to Don Quixote.
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17. Pierre Bonnard
Post-Impressionism
1867–1947 · born in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France · 6 originals at the Petit Palais
French Nabis artist of intimate domestic scenes and vibrant, memory-based color explorations, often featuring his muse Marthe in soft light.
- Portrait of Doctor Maurice Girardin (1917)
- Nude Facing Forward (1905)
- Young Girls with the Seagull (1917)
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French Symbolist known for dreamlike noirs in charcoal and lithography, later evolving into luminous, colorful pastels inspired by Japanese art.
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19. Mary Cassatt
Impressionism
1844–1926 · born in Allegheny, United States · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
American Impressionist known for intimate portrayals of mothers and children, utilizing Japanese ukiyo-e inspired patterns and flattened perspectives.
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French historical painter of dramatic scenes rendered with meticulous realism, bridging Romanticism and Academicism through theatrical storytelling.
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Flemish Baroque painter of boisterous tavern scenes and robust realism, known for expressive brushwork and crowded, lively banquets.
- The Martyrdom of Saint Apollonia (1628)
- The Rest of Diana (1678)
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22. Eugène Louis Boudin
Impressionism
1824–1898 · born in Honfleur, France · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
French marine painter of atmospheric seascapes and shifting light, known for en plein air studies of the Normandy coast and sky.
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23. Maurice Denis
Post-Impressionism
1870–1943 · born in Granville, France · 4 originals at the Petit Palais
French Symbolist and Nabis member known for flattened forms, vibrant colors, and spiritual themes that bridge Impressionism and modern art.
- Bathers, Pouldu Beach (1899)
- Baigneuses à Perros-Guirec (1910)
- Intimacy or Mender at the Window (1903)
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24. Antoine-Jean Gros
Neoclassicism
1771–1835 · born in Paris, France · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
French painter bridging Neoclassicism and Romanticism through dramatic Napoleonic battle scenes and emotive, colorful portraiture.
- Portrait of Jacques Amalric (1804)
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25. Édouard Vuillard
Post-Impressionism
1868–1940 · born in Cuiseaux, France · 6 originals at the Petit Palais
French Nabis painter of intimate, patterned interiors and flattened planes of color, often using distemper to capture domestic life.
Famous artists in the Petit Palais, No. 26 to 50
Aristide Maillol1861–1944 · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
Henri Fantin-Latour1836–1904 · 5 originals at the Petit Palais
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes1824–1898 · 9 originals at the Petit Palais
Thomas Couture1815–1879 · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux1827–1875 · 23 originals at the Petit Palais
Gabriel Metsu1629–1667 · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Johan Jongkind1819–1891 · 6 originals at the Petit Palais
Meindert Hobbema1638–1709 · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Alexandre Cabanel1823–1889 · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
Théodore Chassériau1819–1856 · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Joseph Marie Vien1716–1809 · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
James Tissot1836–1902 · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Joseph Vernet1714–1789 · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
Hubert Robert1733–1808 · 9 originals at the Petit Palais
Léon Bonnat1833–1922 · 8 originals at the Petit Palais
Felix Ziem1821–1911 · 115 originals at the Petit Palais
Paul Sérusier1864–1927 · 4 originals at the Petit Palais
Jules Breton1827–1906 · 9 originals at the Petit Palais
Armand Guillaumin1841–1927 · 5 originals at the Petit Palais
Ary Scheffer1795–1858 · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
Henri Gervex1852–1929 · 11 originals at the Petit Palais
Jean-Paul Laurens1838–1921 · 11 originals at the Petit Palais
Carolus-Duran1837–1917 · 7 originals at the Petit Palais
Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant1845–1902 · 6 originals at the Petit Palais
Maximilien Luce1858–1941 · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
The house in figures
The masters of the Petit Palais, in figures
The masters with the most originals at the Petit Palais
Masters with two originals or more, by century of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by country of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by movement
Women masters
The women whose originals hang in the Petit Palais
10 women masters, 13 originals, in our catalogue of the Petit Palais.
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Mary Cassatt
1844–1926 · born in Allegheny, United States · 3 originals at the Petit Palais
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Berthe Morisot
1841–1895 · born in Bourges, France · 2 originals at the Petit Palais
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Marie Bashkirtseva
1860–1884 · born in Havrontsi, Ukraine · 1 originals at the Petit Palais
- The Parisian (1882)
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Marie Bracquemond
1840–1916 · born in Landunvez, France · 1 originals at the Petit Palais
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Louise Abbéma
1853–1927 · born in Étampes, France · 1 originals at the Petit Palais
- Sarah Bernhardt at the Table (1885)
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Louise Catherine Breslau
1856–1927 · born in Munich, Germany · 1 originals at the Petit Palais
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Virginie Demont-Breton
1859–1935 · born in Courrières, France · 1 originals at the Petit Palais
- Under the pure air (1907)
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Nélie Jacquemart
1841–1912 · born in Paris, France · 1 originals at the Petit Palais
Two houses
The Petit Palais or the Louvre: whose originals are where
The Petit Palais
- Masters in our catalogue
- 523
- Originals
- 1,633
- The masters to know
- Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Courbet
- Most originals by
- Felix Ziem (115), Henry Brokmann (51), Jean-Jacques Henner (31)
The Louvre
- Masters in our catalogue
- 695
- Originals
- 2,610
- The masters to know
- Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer
- Most originals by
- Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes (101), Eustache Le Sueur (56), Eugène Delacroix (42)
Asked of us
Questions on the masters of the Petit Palais
Open a question to read the answer.
Which artist in the Petit Palais is the most famous?
Paul Cézanne, with 6 works at the Petit Palais in our catalogue (Rochers et branches à Bibémus, The Four Seasons, Winter and The Four Seasons, Summer); then Paul Gauguin and Eugène Delacroix.
How many Paul Cézanne paintings are in the Petit Palais?
Our catalogue lists 6 works by Paul Cézanne at the Petit Palais, among them Rochers et branches à Bibémus (1900), The Four Seasons, Winter (1861), The Four Seasons, Summer (1861) and The Four Seasons, Autumn (1861).
How many Paul Gauguin paintings are in the Petit Palais?
Our catalogue lists 2 works by Paul Gauguin at the Petit Palais, among them Aube the Sculptor and His Son (1882) and Old Man with a Stick (1888).
How many Eugène Delacroix paintings are in the Petit Palais?
Our catalogue lists 7 works by Eugène Delacroix at the Petit Palais, among them Combat of the Giaour and the Pasha and Peace Comes to Console Men and Restore Abundance (1852).
Who are the top 10 artists in the Petit Palais?
The ten best-known artists with works in the Petit Palais are Paul Cézanne (6), Paul Gauguin (2), Eugène Delacroix (7), Gustave Courbet (14), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (8), Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (3), Théodore Géricault (3), Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (2), Berthe Morisot (2) and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (2).
Who has the most paintings in the collection of the Petit Palais?
Felix Ziem (—), with 115 works in our catalogue of the Petit Palais, ahead of Henry Brokmann (51), Jean-Jacques Henner (31) and Luc Olivier Merson (29).
Are there Leonardo da Vinci works in the Petit Palais?
No: the Petit Palais holds no work by Leonardo da Vinci in our catalogue. For Leonardo da Vinci, see the Louvre: 30 works there.
Are there Pablo Picasso works in the Petit Palais?
No: the Petit Palais holds no work by Pablo Picasso in our catalogue.
How many women artists are in the Petit Palais?
10 women artists have works of the Petit Palais in our catalogue, among them Mary Cassatt (3), Berthe Morisot (2), Marie Bashkirtseva (1), Marie Bracquemond (1), Louise Abbéma (1) and Louise Catherine Breslau (1).
The Petit Palais or the Louvre: which has the more famous artists?
The Petit Palais holds works by 523 artists of our catalogue, the Louvre by 695. The best-known artists of the Petit Palais are Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin and Eugène Delacroix; of the Louvre, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Michelangelo.
Where do the artists of the Petit Palais come from?
Counting the artists with two works or more, the Petit Palais holds painters born mostly in France (201), Netherlands (7), Belgium (3), United States (2) and Italy (2).
From which period are the artists of the Petit Palais?
Most of the artists with two works or more at the Petit Palais were born in the 19th century (192 artists); the earliest in this ranking is Jacob Jordaens (1593–1678), the latest Maurice Denis (1870–1943).
The house
The Petit Palais, Paris, in a few lines
A Parisian Oasis of Artistic Grandeur: Exploring Musée du Petit Palais
A Legacy Rooted in Celebration: the Petit Palais’s origins lie in commemorating the Exposition Universelle, where its architects sought to create a space that would inspire awe and admiration. Designed by Charles Girault in Beaux-Arts style, the Petit Palais is instantly recognizable by its imposing façade facing the Grand Palais and its serene semi-circular courtyard. The building’s grandeur stems from its meticulous proportions, adorned with elegant Ionic columns and crowned by a monumental dome – a deliberate choice to convey prestige and artistic aspiration.
Treasures Within Its Walls: Highlights of the Collection
The Petit Palais’s collection is remarkably diverse, reflecting the artistic currents of its time.
The famous originals of the Petit PalaisThe Petit Palais: the full page, 1,649 originalsThe museums of Paris
How the masters of the originals are ranked
The masters with two originals or more of the Petit Palais in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe them, the visits to their OriginalUniqueArt.com page and our studio's ranking. Originals are counted in our catalogue — one entry per work, without details, studies or copies — not in the museum's inventory. Every date, birthplace and movement is the catalogue's; the notes are drawn from the master's biography.
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