Question about sketching within Paris museums
 

Would like to sketch at some of Paris museums eg, D'Orsay etc.
Do the museums allow visitors to sketch while in the galleries?
Thanks

I would think you need permission to do this.

Also - since these galleries are usually mobbed not sure how you would get a good enough view to do this. I'm sure a 3-minute scribble would be fine. If you mean set up a stool and something to lean against and give you free view of the piece - I can't imagine this would happen without official advance permission - and probably not even then without some strong rationale.

I aw someone drawing in musee d'orsay. She was properly set up with an easel which I would imagine you'd need permission to do.

<i>Do the museums allow visitors to sketch while in the galleries?</i>

Yes you can sketch. (you also used to be allowed to take photos in the Musee d'Orsay but that has mostly been eliminated)

I think sketching is probably fine (though the guards may move you along if it appears you're obstructing view), but painting I suspect requires some sort of permit. I've many times seen people in rooms at the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre and elsewhere painting with a full easel and palette and so fort, but I imagine they needed some sort of permit to do that.

Off topic sort of: When we were in St Petersburg there was a group of young students, maybe 8-12 yrs old, sitting across from the Church on the Spilled Blood sketching the church. There were little groups here and there. As we visited with the kids it was interesting to look at their drawings and see their different perspectives. Some of those kids were real artists in the making definitely.

Thanks for the responses. Sketching, without obstructing the view of others should not be a problem.

Wait, you can't take pictures in the Musee D'Orsay anymore? What? I haven't been since 2008.

From the website:

"Freehand pencil sketches, not exceeding 30 x 60 cm, are allowed in the museum. However, for groups, previous authorisation must be requested when the booking is made."

Requests to "copy" paintings (which I presume means painting) must be made at least a month in advance.

Photos and videos are no longer allowed.

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/i...ash=1030a57d48

gwan--thanks! Wow, that sucks! I don't care to take pictures of the paintings but I really wanted to take a picture of my kids silhouette against the clock =( We used to take that same shot every time...and now that I have kids I wanted to do one of them.

Be sure it means "flash" for pictures.
We were at Ste. Chapelle one time and a young person's "art group" was there. I think they were asking the children to analyze the windows--they had printed outlines. they were sitting all over the floor--looking at the windows and then back at their papers. It was tres cool.

We were last at the Louvre 5 years ago, and plenty of people were sketching, do not know if permission was required

Hi Giro,

Have you read THE GREATER JOURNEY: Americans in Paris 1830-1900 by David McCullough? Includes much description of famous painters who set up their easels freely in the Louvre in the 19th century including John Singer Sargent, James Whistler, and St. Gaudens to name a few.

Given your interest in Paris and art, I am sure you would enjoy this book, beautifully illustrated too.

I love to see people of any age sketching in museums --
much more aesthetically pleasing than hordes mindlessly filming works of art.