Musée Zadkine, Paris

The Musée Zadkine is the former home and studio of the sculptor Ossip Zadkine at 100 bis Rue d'Assas in Paris's 6th arrondissement, 200 m from the Luxembourg Gardens. Run by Paris Musées, it has a free permanent collection and a small sculpture garden, and suits anyone who wants a quiet 45 minutes with modern sculpture away from the big museums.

Who was Ossip Zadkine?

Zadkine, born in 1890 in the Russian Empire, settled in Paris and became one of the sculptors of the Montparnasse avant-garde. He took over the house and its studios in 1928 and worked there for the rest of his career; he died in 1967. His widow, the painter Valentine Prax, carried out his wish to give his works and studio to the City of Paris, and on her death in 1981 left her estate to the city as well.

Paris Musées and contemporary shows since 1995

The museum opened on 19 April 1982. After a renovation to improve access it reopened on 10 October 2012, and since 1 January 2013 it has been run by Paris Musées, the body that manages the fourteen city museums. Since 1995 it has also held three or four contemporary art exhibitions a year that respond to Zadkine's work.

About 400 sculptures from wood carving to Cubism

The collection counts about 400 sculptures and some 500 works on paper, with drawings, photographs and tapestries. The small rooms show how Zadkine moved from direct carving in wood and stone to the Cubist-influenced figures for which he is best known. The studios keep the feel of working spaces lit by tall windows, and visually impaired visitors may touch selected works, which carry braille labels.

Bronzes in Gilles Clément's forest garden

Outside, bronzes stand among trees in a small garden laid out by the landscape designer Gilles Clément around the theme of the forest. On a fine day it is one of the calmest corners of the Left Bank.