The Petit Palais pays tribute to the popular 18th century French artist, Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725-1805), on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth.

Although less well known today, in his own time, Greuze was acclaimed by the public, courted by collectors, and adored by critics, the influential Denis Diderot in particular. He was, however, also singular. A rebellious spirit, he never ceased to reaffirm his creative freedom and the possibility of rethinking painting outside of the conventions of his period.

Portrayals of living children were relatively rare in art before the 18th century, the first period to recognize the individuality of children and portray them for their own sake rather than as adjuncts to family and adults. Much affected by the ideas of the French Enlightenment, a new sensitivity, tenderness and charm characterize these portrayals, including Greuze’s, which are the focus of the exhibition.

One hundred works of art, on loan from some of the most important French and international collections, including the Musée du Louvre, Musée Fabre (Montpellier), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), National Galleries of Scotland (Edinburgh), the Royal Collection (Britain), as well as numerous private collections allow an exciting re-discovery of the art of Greuze.

Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Time: 11:30am for 11:45 entry. Tour ends at 1:15 pm.

Place: Lobby of lower group entrance (right of main steps) of Petit Palais,

avenue Winston Churchill 75008.

Metro: Champs-Elysées- Clemenceau (lines 1, 13).

Tour Fee: 29€

Ticket: Buy your ticket online