"Adventures in the Louvre" The Consultation Room

I, too, found this part of her book slightly shocking! I can’t wait to hear how it works out fir you.

As to how to choose, if you have a favorite artist I’d go to the collections part of the Louvre website and browse the database on what they’ve got that’s not on display. I just looked at Claude Monet because they do have some of his work in the Louvre but there were too many hits for me to search thru on my iPad (currently traveling and waiting for breakfast to start, lolol!) plus they list things that are in the Orsay. I went to the other end of the spectrum and searched Vermeer but there are only the 2 listings which are his works that are hanging.

I’m sure the experience will be interesting if not awesome. Years ago I went to the heritage and archive center in Yellowstone and asked to see the original artwork from Thomas Moran from the 1871 Geological Survey he was on. The staffer took me to the flat drawer filing cabinets and she and I looked thru them. Gobsmacked!

Thanks Pam!
I just ordered a book on ebay about the Rothschild Collection. That should get me started.
I will update the thread as I get more information.

This is where art historians study works on paper and other fragile documents. Try pre 1874 artists which is what the Louvre houses, aside from donations that can’t be separated: Rembrandt, Durer, both created a lot of works on paper.

Update: I have sent my request for access to the consultation room on September 15. I included a list of works with their catalog numbers. I will let you know what happens.

Ohhhh....she says...sucking in a breath....can't wait to hear what happens.

How did you wind up researching your 10 works of art?

As to the Adventures in the Louvre book..I want to do her "Tuesday tour" so I need to go back to that chapter and work out a plan!

Pam,
I am so excited! Thank you so much for recommending the book here on the forum. I am looking forward to a unique experience! I have received a response to my inquiry. I asked for an appointment on Tuesday, September 16th. My request was for myself and DS.
The reply stated that they are closed on the 16th, but to please confirm for a different day. They also requested that DS send his own request in a separate email. We have resent our requests. Sciolino wrote not to expect a timely reply, but they emailed me first thing on Monday morning. (the email came in the middle of my night).

The first thing I did to research the works was to order a book from eBay titled The Edmond Rothschild Collection at The Louvre Museum. It is the second all French book in the house, the first being The Little Prince. It has pictures of some highlighted works. Then I went to the Louvre website on the consultation room page at the Department of Graphics. I found this page to be very clunky and it was taking me forever. I then found a different page prints and drawings. Because of my practice on the previous page it went much smoother. It took a long time. For DS I searched for pastels and then separately for Rembrandt. You can also search for "horses" or "cats" or something similar. I am interested in the David sketch of Marie Antoinette on the way to her death, a Leonardo sketch, Rafael, and Pissaro. The works include drawings from d'Orsay as well.

The email address is: [email protected]

I don’t have anything to add to your search but look forward to hearing more after your visit ! I’ve read three of Elaine Sciolino ‘s books. She is a fantastic author and I learned so much about the louvre in her latest. She also has written a good book on the seine and in the neighborhood she lives in.

OMG - this is so fantastic. Looking forward to reading about everyone's adventures.

Thank you OP for this information. I've just ordered The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue Des Martyrs and The Seine: The River That Made Paris. I ordered them from Thrift Books, used, for under $20 including shipping. I've used them many times instead of Amazon--their books are always in pristine condition. Why have I never heard of this author or of The Consultation Room before?! Thanks again vandrabrud.

My appointment is confirmed for Thursday September 18th at 2 pm.
I will report back after I return home!

FYI, the email conversation was all in French. When I sent my first email I first apologized for my poor French. I used Google Translate and used very simple sentence structure. I am learning French, but I have a long ways to go. When I recieved an email from their end, I did my best to read it in French and then I clicked the translate button. The person was very kind and informative and I am very pleased with the communication.

I hope more people can take advantage of this opportunity to get up close and personal to works of art.

We received further emails confirming our specific art work requests.
Unfortunately, they don't allow Leonardo drawings out.

Later this week I will give you our lists.

"Unfortunately, they don't allow Leonardo drawings out."

Well, darn it!

Here is an article in today's NYTimes about the Consultation Room. It looks fascinating! Also about some other museums there.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/travel/paris-art-museums.html?unlocked_article_code=1.k08._-sj.n6yTjnVz37dJ&smid=url-share

Thanks Mardee for the link!
The article is written by Elain Sciolino.
She really wants to get this information out to art lovers, I am glad!

I will post the catalog numbers of our requested works here. If you Google them you can see the pieces:

RF 11996 Recto
Pissaro Portrait de Cezanne

RF 29957, Recto
Pissaro Vue d'Eragny

RF 31287
Ingres Portrait de mademoiselle Barbara Bansi

RF 30403
Manet Couple avec chien a une terasse de cafe

INV 4289, Recto
Santi, Rafaello, copie d'apres La Cene

REC 159 Bis, Recto
Pissaro Landscape with group of trees on the left

TH 283
Rouleau Immortels dans un paysage

35999 DR/1 Recto
David Portrait de Marie-Antoinette reine de France, conduit au supplice

RF 4049 Recto
Delacroix The Night

RF 14968
Oudry Head of Meowing Cat

RF 694 Recto
Rembrandt Lying and sleeping lion

INV 26164 Recto
David Ruines romaines enfourees d'arbes

RF 30377 Recto
Manet Saint Luc

184 DR/Recto
Rembrandt Groupe d'arbres au bord de l'eau

L36 LR/144 Recto
Durer Saint Michel combattant le dragon

Lift off in less than 4 days!
Our appointments are on the 18th, I will try to come back and give a description of our experience that evening.

@vandrabrud How did you find the "RF ......" details? Do you have a link? Thank you.

How exciting and what a unique (non touristy) thing to do! Enjoy Paris!

Sounds like a great hack. If I had an idea of something I really wanted to see, I'd try it. We'll be in Paris next week but weren't planning on the Louvre. I've been multiple times, with the museum pass, but it's becoming irritatingly inconvenient.

The Treasures at the British Library is another underappreciated collection. When I went, there were five people in the entire room that contained hundreds of items.

Getting a reader card at Library of Congress is a similar hack. You don't stand in line and have access to materials normal visitors can't access. I got mine a long time ago, planning to use their genealogy resources. Sadly, I really didn't have the time to use it as much as I would have liked

@Wandering Pickle
Here is a link for the Graphic Arts Department catalog search page: search here

@Tammy, Thanks and enjoy Japan!

@Travel Boss, My son wasn't really up for another visit to the Louvre museum proper and I wanted to visit the d'Orsay this time. Louvre tickets are not required to view works in the Salle de Consultation, just an appointment.

We can check in for our flights in 17 hours!

This is awesome! I also read the Sciolino book (at Pam's suggestion) and am very curious how your appointment will go. Have a wonderful trip and do report back!

I am still trying to understand how that search functions.

Some of the results are artifacts, books, maps, and the like. Will the Room bring those out, or do they only provide drawings and papers?

I know they bring out some carvings and engravings. The only way to know for sure is to ask and see what they say. After sending our lists, we received an email telling us which pieces were approved and which ones not.

We have arrived in Paris with a bit of jet lag. We were able to access our room at 8:00 am. DS is still asleep and I am ready to head out to reacquaint with my favorite city.

Of course I happened get our appointment on strike day. We are anxiously awaiting an email to let us know if the Louvre is closing. They are having their meeting about the decision right now

Hooray!
I received an email at noon that they could accept us at 1:30 on Thursday.
We went to porte des lions and we're turned away. They didn't seem to know anything about salle de consultation or graphic arts department. They sent us to a different building. Thankfully when we returned there was someone else there that knew. A woman from the department met us with our badges. We were not asked for our passports. The department staff members were exceedingly kind. We were taken to lockers to store our things. Our phones were allowed. They had printed copies of our requests and they had us copy the list, one artist per page, on request forms. The drawing by David of Marie Antoinette was on loan. I guess I will have to go back next year! If your request was in a box of multiple works, you can look at all of them.

It was a great day and a great experience. I highly recommend doing this!
I held in my hands works by Pissarro, Ingress and Manet!

"I held in my hands works by Pissarro, Ingress and Manet!"

OH. MY. WORD. I had tingles down my arms and actually got a little teary thinking about this. I am SO glad you got in and got to see some special artwork! Wow!

They usually give little gloves to wear if you are going to touch the works.

Did they give you little gloves to wear to protect the works?

Actually, gloves aren't usually recommended for works on paper. You can't hold them as firmly when wearing gloves, which makes them more likely to slip or tear. I regularly work with rare books and other works on paper without gloves - but clean, dry hands.

Vandrabud, how exciting! I now have something to put at the top of my "next time Paris to do list". I'm so happy you were able to do this. Thanks so much for sharing.

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