12 must-see masterpieces at the Musée d'Orsay
Quick answer
The Musée d'Orsay's must-see works are Manet's Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass, Courbet's A Burial at Ornans and The Origin of the World, Millet's The Gleaners, Renoir's Bal du moulin de la Galette, Van Gogh's Starry Night over the Rhône, Cézanne's The Card Players and Degas's ballerinas.
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The 12 key works, level by level
Exact locations change often; the floor plan at the entrance shows the current level and room.
- 1
Level 0
Olympia — Édouard Manet (1863)
A nude that scandalised with its direct gaze and its modernity.
- 2
Level 0
Luncheon on the Grass — Édouard Manet (1863)
It caused the scandal of the Salon des Refusés and opened the door to impressionism.
- 3
Level 0
A Burial at Ornans — Gustave Courbet (1849–50)
A huge canvas for an everyday subject: a manifesto of realism.
- 4
Level 0
The Origin of the World — Gustave Courbet (1866)
One of the most provocative works of the 19th century.
- 5
Level 0
The Gleaners — Jean-François Millet (1857)
Three peasant women gathering leftover harvest: the dignity of humble labour.
- 6
Level 5
Bal du moulin de la Galette — Auguste Renoir (1876)
Light and joy on a Sunday in Montmartre.
- 7
Level 5
La Gare Saint-Lazare — Claude Monet (1877)
Steam and smoke in a modern station, a theme of the industrial age.
- 8
Level 5
Rouen Cathedral — Claude Monet (1892–94)
The same facade painted at different hours of the day.
- 9
Level 5
The Dance Class — Edgar Degas (c. 1874)
Photographic framing and movement in a ballet rehearsal.
- 10
Level 5
Starry Night over the Rhône — Vincent van Gogh (1888)
The lights of Arles reflected in the river beneath a starry sky.
- 11
Level 5
The Church at Auvers — Vincent van Gogh (1890)
Painted weeks before his death, with architecture that seems to ripple.
- 12
Level 5
The Card Players — Paul Cézanne (1890–92)
A model of building volume with colour that influenced cubism.
How to see them all in one visit
Go up to level 5 for the impressionists, then come down to the ground level for Manet, Courbet and Millet. Our 2-hour route follows this order.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Van Gogh's Starry Night?
Starry Night over the Rhône is at Orsay, on level 5; the famous swirling-sky Starry Night is at MoMA in New York.
Where are the impressionists?
On level 5 of the museum, next to the giant glass clock.
Does Orsay have the Mona Lisa?
No: the Mona Lisa is at the Louvre. Orsay picks up where the Louvre ends, in the mid-19th century.
Where is Courbet's The Origin of the World?
It is in the museum; check the floor plan at the entrance, as its location can change.