This is the last of a series of 4 posts on public libraries, three of which are situated in Europe and one in Australia. Click to read the earlier posts, here, here and here.
Enjoy a secular song from the late Medieval period, while browsing.
While staying in Paris for an extended period, we stumbled upon a treasure trove of art books – the Bibliothèque Forney, tucked away on Rue du Figuier in Le Marais. Our apartment in the 4th arrondissement, on Rue de Rivoli, was just a quick 10-minute walk from this delightful public library. The nearest metro stop is Pont Marie but one can also use Saint Paul.
The buildings that house the four libraries in this series of posts were all constructed in different eras. Here, the Hôtel de Sens that houses the Bibliothèque Forney is the oldest (1600’s), the State Library of Victoria was built in 1856, the Biennale Library in Venice in 1932, and the Stadtbibliothek was completed in 2011.
The Bibliothèque Forney is a specialized library dedicated to decorative arts, fine arts, and applied arts. It was founded in 1886 and named after Aimé-Samuel Forney, a philanthropist and politician who left a significant endowment for the creation of a library that would support artisans and craftsmen.
Initially based in the heart of Faubourg Saint-Antoine, the premises quickly became too cramped for the library. In 1929, the plan of transferring the library to the Hôtel de Sens was adopted, but due to the extreme state of disrepair of the building, the library did not open at the Hôtel de Sens until 1961.
The Hôtel de Sens, a medieval building dating back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries, is remarkably one of the few remaining examples of civil Gothic architecture in Paris. It was constructed as a residence for the archbishops of Sens, who had authority over Paris until 1622.
From 1689 to 1743, it became the headquarters of a haulage company (carriages and coaches). It was thereafter a cannery, a jam factory, a glasswork, etc. until 1911, when the City of Paris bought the Hotel.
The architecture of the Hôtel de Sens includes Gothic turrets, machicolations, and Renaissance-style dormer windows. The Hôtel de Sens boasts a picturesque garden, and a courtyard which serves now as a drop-off zone for the library. The building is adorned with historical details such as stone carvings, a large spiral staircase, and a grand fireplace.
Look at this remarkable modern interpretation of a medieval chandelier. >>
Bibliothèque Forney operates as a public library under the administration of the City of Paris. Since we had a residential address (in opposed to a hotel address), I(Chris) was able to obtain a library card to borrow books and media! It is valid for a year but I will need to appear in person to renew the card. The librarian was extraordinarily helpful in this regard, even my spoken French is barely functional.
The library houses over 200,000 documents, including books, periodicals, catalogs, and trade journals, focusing on areas like graphic arts, crafts, interior design, and fashion. Some materials are available for on-site consultation only, others can be borrowed. Click on the photo for a close-up view.
Art histories
Poster art
Given Paris’s prominence in the fashion world, the library’s collection offers a wealth of pictorial and academic references on fashion designers and brands, making it an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in this industry. For example, I was able to look at actual advertising materials (posters) from the early 1900s on-site.
Videos and books on designers/brands from Cacharel, Christian Lacroix, Sonia Rykiel, to Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto, can be borrowed.
During my visit which was in winter, sunset occurred at around 5pm. Consequently, I often found myself at the library after dark, which provided an opportunity to capture these dramatic photos of the Hôtel de Sens.
Bibliothèque Forney engages with the public through a lively program of events, including thematic exhibitions that showcase different aspects of the decorative arts, from historical craftsmanship to contemporary design trends. The Hôtel de Sens also houses the Galerie Forney, which hosts exhibitions put on by the library. I saw an exhibition of the history of cosmetic face powder and the artistry in the design of the containers. The exhibition will be the subject of a future post.
While Paris is full of historical buildings, Bibliothèque Forney stands out as a hidden gem in the center of the city. It captivates visitors not only with its architecture but also with its extensive collection of art and design resources.
This is the last of a series of 4 posts on public libraries. The first post is about the hi-tech Stadtbibliothek in Stuttgart; the second is about the Victoria State Library in Melbourne, Australia. The third, the library is situated in Venice, which we discovered during the Arte Biennale 2024.