Master of the Venetian Renaissance at Musée du Luxembourg

The Musée du Luxembourg is a wonderful, small museum located in the French Senate building, in the Luxembourg Palace. Inaugurated in 1750 (the first public museum in Paris), it no longer has a permanent collection but instead hosts two shows a year – and these are some of the best expos in Paris.

The current show is Cima da Coneglianio: Master of the Venetian Renaissance. Through more than thirty works, the exhibition traces the chronology of Cima da Conegliano’s career and the evolution of his art.

It brings out the fundamental role he played in Venetian and European painting in the late fifteenth century. Included are sublime altarpieces, and rich mythological interpretations.

If you go, I suggest buying timed tickets on line; I would also recommend going first thing in the morning to avoid crowds.

Through July 15.

Fra Angelico et les Maîtres de la Lumière at Musée Jaquemart André

It really doesn’t get much better than Renaissance art, and Fra Angelico et les Maiîtres de la Lumière, at Musée Jaquemart André, is a wonderful reminder of this.

The expo traces the career of the 15th century Dominican monk and painter, Fra Angelico, from his first illuminated manuscripts, to his highly narrative paintings and alterpieces, and, at the height of his career, his splendid frescoes.

The colors are amazing, with gilded halos, backgrounds of gold leaf, lots of vermillion, and lapis lazuli. As time passes, we see increased use of perspective and realism.

The show also recognizes Italian painters who influenced Fra Angelico, and features superb examples of his assistants, who developed their own styles. The results aren’t just stunning in terms of craftsmanship, but surprisingly modern.

My favorite work is a painting owned by the museum – Saint Georges terrassant le dragon, by Paolo Uccello. It could be in a modern video game.

Until Jan 16.