For painters who came on the career before the last war, that is to say in the thirties, it appears, today, at the dawn of the 21^st century, that our craft has been totally transformed.

It has been transformed because our society isn't the same anymore, the values, the hierarchies, the aspirations, the way of life, the ambitions of our contemporaries have totally changed.

So, what used to be true for the last generation isn't always right today.

The G.P.P.F (this is the Painting and Decorating Employers' Federation gathering the leading companies from Paris and Parisian area) has created the "Painting Museum" : it is expected to be a place where documents and accounts of the ages would be preserved.

The G.P.P.F naturally decided to settle down this Museum in IFIDEC premises to assert that the IFIDEC teaching philosophy draws its principles from the past.

The "Painting Museum" takes up a surface area of 200 m2 and a presentation wall of 120 m.

In the main room, a series of showcases recall the beginning of our craft, from the separation of "pictures painters" and "houses painters", our ancestors.

Some documents about the creation in 1837 of the Employers' Federation and some outlines bring to mind the problems from this period : the ceruse and the wages rises !

Next, we can see lots of works and documents relative to apprenticeship. After that, a showcase dedicates to the prices of villas, departments, subcontractors, etc.

We can also see some memories of works, which had been made to famous customers.

Then, the visitor will take a look at a presentation of old books among which several editions from the "Watin", first book dedicated to our craft in the second part of the 18th century.

Afterwards, we can read some presentations of Jean Edme Leclaire, creator of the first modern company. He was one of the pioneers for the long fight against the ceruse.

Next, we can see some presentations of old products, price lists, and lots of advertising objects.

Wallpapers haven't been forgotten : the Museum presents some "Art Déco" wallpapers samples, a lot of advertisement from the beginning of the century and some printing cylinders.

Coming after, the rebuilding of a painter workshop, where have been exposed products and equipments, most of them not being employed anymore.

To end the visit, we can see a presentation of several famous Zuber productions with a summary of the factory history.

In the gallery, are collected a great number of pictures among which some have been dated from the beginning of the 20^th century. Itinerant photographers used to walk in our streets and have immortalized painter's shops, wallpapers' shops and companions at work or at a terrace of a "café".

We can also see lots of bills among which some are more than 160 years old, some advertisements, brochures, shares and bonds.

Finally, a section concerning humour in the field of painting.

The Museum is becoming richer from year to year. We are still looking for new pictures and new documents that we will give back quickly to their owners.

In conclusion, the Museum can be visited with an appointment and groups can even rent it to organize meetings.

Visits of the Museum and of IPEDEC (1^st European Training Centre of Decorative Painting) make up a permanent attraction.