Thanks to its galleries, its greenhouses and its menagerie, the Muséum offered the man nicknamed "le Douanier Rousseau" the opportunity to observe exotic animals and plants without leaving Paris.
Like him, a crowd of artists took advantage of this privileged access to the Muséum's collections and spaces, both to stimulate their inspiration and to contribute to the construction of naturalist knowledge. Through the centuries, the representation of animals, plants and minerals has proven indispensable to the development of the natural sciences.
Since its creation in 1626, the Jardin des Plantes has been the stage of a true symbiosis between art and science. Painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, taxidermy, cinema, architecture… Explore 400 years of looking at a science that never ceases to renew itself.
Artists' Entrance
Who are the artists at the Muséum?
The institution attracts very diverse profiles: researchers describing new species, painters fascinated by scenes of wild life, a drawing teacher passionate about zoology, or a photographer playing with underwater light. Some have attended a school of Fine Arts, others a training in biology, but all have frequented the Muséum or taken part in expeditions to feed their work.
Whether they became famous or remained in the shadow of the laboratories, their work celebrates the beauty of the natural world through the pursuit of scientific exactitude.
The Making of the Scientific Image
How do artists and researchers work to produce scientific images at the Muséum?
Drawing, engraving, painting or photography: various techniques are employed to meet the challenges of representation in the natural sciences. The production of these images follows certain stages and meets very precise standards to support and complete the discourses produced by researchers.
The Muséum then becomes a laboratory of experiments not only biological but also artistic, where often innovative processes are developed. Painting on vellum, camera lucida, microscopy, use of colours… Between centuries-old traditions, new technologies and the illusory quest for perfect objectivity, scientific imagery casts a particular gaze on the world, which finds echoes in other artistic practices.
A real art gallery!
From the 17th century onwards, the Jardin des Plantes had an artistic production aimed at promoting the institution and making naturalist knowledge accessible to as many people as possible. Beyond being a place of research, it was also a showcase of royal power, as the richly detailed engravings and plans attest.
After the Revolution and the fall of the monarchy, the Muséum continued to commission spectacular statues or paintings from great masters. It acquired various art collections to astonish visitors and called on famous architects for its buildings.
Artists such as Salvador Dalí, Bernard Buffet, François Pompon, Chris Marker, or Alberto Giacometti came to find inspiration in this exceptional setting. The presence of artists is encouraged through reserved opening hours, residencies and exhibitions.
Wander through the different worlds of the Muséum to encounter their works.
Engaged Artists
Relations between arts and sciences are evolving with the contemporary challenges for the future of the planet. As a major scientific reference, the Muséum attracts creators concerned by these issues.
Some join forces with researchers to raise alarm about the effects of global warming, pollution, and the mass extinction of species.