Built from 1897 to 1900 on the occasion of the universal exposition in Paris, the “grand palais” was originally a "monument dedicated to the glory of French art from the republic ", as stated in the inscription engraved on its front.
In 1964, André Malraux, minister of cultural business, entrusted to Reynolds Arnould the task of turning a part of the great building into galleries destined to present prestigious international exposures: the first one, dedicated to the black art of African countries, took place between June and August 1966. The national galleries of the great building have housed more than 250 exposures organized for the most part by all the national museums and they imposed themselves as one of the most important places of international exposures of France and of the world.
