Medieval and Renaissance art in nineteenth-century Paris

The 1800s formed a decisive period in the history of collecting, of museums, and of the revival of all things medieval and Renaissance. In late nineteenth-century Paris, these three phenomena were closely related, with passionate collectors, dealers or connoisseurs playing a pivotal role. This paper considers the Parisian art collectors, or amateurs, who amassed significant holdings of medieval and Renaissance art, including furniture, maiolica, arms and armour, sculptures and tapestries; it examines the specific attraction exerted by this material, as well as the outcomes, foremost among them being the creation of impressive collections displayed both in private homes and in newly founded museums. Such displays reveal a desire to surround the spectator with antiques, thereby creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, at a time when anything Gothic was a la mode.