On a par with the British Museum in London and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the museum maintains vast collections, spanning botany, geology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. The children's favorites, naturally, are the dinosaurs. There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted. Acquired by the State as part of a deal with Picasso's heirs in lieu of inheritance taxes, the collection spans six decades of creativity, including the unabashedly ribald pictures the artist produced in his later years, as well as some fine sculpture. Since Rodin left all his works to the State, visitors will find all their favorites there, such as the famous Kiss , the moving Cathedral , the elaborate Gates of Hell , the final proud portrait of Balzac, and the eternally absorbed Thinker .
Art is science made clear.
Replicas, models, audio-visual material and real apparatus are used to bring the displays to life. A permanent display covers man and his biology, light, and the principles of thermo-dynamism. Also offered are scientific experiments for budding genetic engineers, lectures, planetarium shows, scientific films, as well as a number of temporary exhibitions and children's activities. Exploring Paris , Fiona Dunlop, Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc., New York. This charming little hardcover, perfect for the pocket or backpack, allows travelers to venture beyond the museum walls and trace the footsteps of these great artists, including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Edouard Manet, just to name a few.