National Museum of Asian Art – Guimet

First created in Lyons in 1879, before its transfer to Paris in 1889, the National Museum of Asian Art – Guimet was completely renovated by the architect Henri Gaudin. Emile Guimet (1836-1918), its founder, had originally wished to exhibit works illustrating the great religions of the world. Then, the museum gradually built up its collections as a result of scientific expeditions, missions and donations, (Paul Pelliot, Jacques Bacot, Louis Delaporte, Alfred Foucher, Lionel Fournier, etc.) and in 1945 under Georges Salles, it assumed its current role as a museum entirely devoted to Asian art. RMN-GP’s photography agency has a continuously updated collection of 11,500 high definition images that illustrate the arts and civilisations of Asia.