14th- and
15th-century Gothic and Renaissance structure in Paris, built
by Pierre
de Chaslus, abbot of Cluny, and rebuilt
by Jacques d’Ambroise. The site is that of the ancient
Roman baths of Emperor Julian. Acquired by the nation after
the Revolution, it was subsequently purchased by the antiquarian
Du Sommerard, who installed his collection of art objects of
the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The city of Paris purchased
the entire property at Du Sommerard’s death (1842) and
presented it to the state. The museum’s 24 galleries
display a variety of medieval works, with emphasis on carved
wood, metalwork, textiles, and stained glass. A number of superb
tapestries of the 15th and 16th cent., produced in Flanders
and the Loire valley, are among the museum’s greatest
treasures.
This museum houses a variety of important artefacts dating to the Middle Ages. In particular, it is renowned for its tapestry collection, which includes La Dame à la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) from the so-called tapestry cycle of the same name, consisting of a series of six.
14th- and
15th-century Gothic and Renaissance structure in Paris, built
by Pierre
de Chaslus, abbot of Cluny, and rebuilt
by Jacques d’Ambroise. The site is that of the ancient
Roman baths of Emperor Julian. Acquired by the nation after
the Revolution, it was subsequently purchased by the antiquarian
Du Sommerard, who installed his collection of art objects of
the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The city of Paris purchased
the entire property at Du Sommerard’s death (1842) and
presented it to the state. The museum’s 24 galleries
display a variety of medieval works, with emphasis on carved
wood, metalwork, textiles, and stained glass. A number of superb
tapestries of the 15th and 16th cent., produced in Flanders
and the Loire valley, are among the museum’s greatest
treasures. 
This museum houses a variety of important artefacts dating to the Middle Ages. In particular, it is renowned for its tapestry collection, which includes La Dame à la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn) from the so-called tapestry cycle of the same name, consisting of a series of six. 
