Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900 , the building of the Petit Palais, a masterpiece of the architect Charles Girault , became in 1902 the Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris .

It has a fine collection of paintings, sculptures , furniture and objets d'art dating from antiquity to 1914.

Among its treasures are distinguished outstanding collection of Greek vases and a very important set of Flemish and Dutch paintings of the seventeenth century around the famous Self-portrait of Rembrandt dog . His magnificent collection of French paintings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries account of major works : Fragonard, Greuze, David , Géricault , Delacroix, Courbet , Pissarro , Monet , Renoir, Sisley , Cézanne and Vuillard.The field of sculpture , the museum boasts beautiful Carpeaux and Dalou Carries funds. The decorative art collection is particularly rich for ¬ Rebirth and for the period 1900 whether Gallé glass , jewelry Lalique and Fouquet , or dining room designed by Guimard for his hotel particular. The museum also has a beautiful graphic arts firm , including the complete series of engravings by Dürer, Rembrandt, Callot ... and a rare background of Nordic design .