Binnenplaats en tuin van het Hôtel de Cluny in Parijs c. 1880 - 1900

Méderic Mieusement created this photograph of the courtyard and garden of the Hôtel de Cluny in Paris in the late 19th century. The Hôtel de Cluny, a medieval structure with gothic architectural elements, had become a museum in 1843. Mieusement's photograph captures the museum's courtyard and garden, framing them as spaces of cultivated leisure and historical contemplation. This image reflects a 19th-century fascination with the medieval past, part of a broader cultural movement that saw the establishment of museums as institutions dedicated to preserving and displaying historical artifacts. France's own medieval past was a symbol of national identity. Photographs such as this served not only to document the architecture but also to promote the museum as a cultural and educational resource. Art historians might consider this photograph as a case study in the evolving role of museums and the cultural politics of preserving national heritage. Analyzing photographs like this enriches our understanding of how cultural institutions shape our perception of history.