Between patriotism and internationalism Contemporary art at the Musee du Luxembourg in the nineteenth century

When the Musee du Luxembourg was founded in 1818, it was conceived as a museum for contemporary paintings by French artists whose work had been acquired by the state. It was rooted in a patriotic attitude and did not concern itself with foreign art. During the second half of the century, however, the concept of an international collection came to be adopted. This article sheds light on the origins of these international ambitions that were closely intertwined with nationalistic attitudes in late nineteenth-century Paris. The aspiration for a national museum of contemporary art with an international collection arose on one hand from a universal vision, bringing together all artistic expression, and on the other hand from a nationalistic idea, concerned with the affirmation of France's superiority over other countries.