PARIS (AFP).- The Musee d'Orsay, Paris's well-known museum hosting many impressionist paintings, has dropped its ban on visitors taking photos of its artworks after France's culture minister openly flouted the restriction.

The museum is now aligning itself with rules in force in other major museums in Paris and around the world, which allow visitors to take photos as long as flashes and tripods aren't used.

The sudden lifting of the no-photos policy, which had been in place since 2009, happened on Wednesday, after French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin took a picture of a canvas by artist Pierre Bonnard whose post-impressionist paintings are currently being exhibited in the museum.

Pellerin posted her image on her Instagram feed on Monday, triggering an outcry by Internet users who complained she was getting away with a practice forbidden to ordinary visitors.

The culture ministry has its own, non-binding, charter on photography in French museums that urges commonsense approaches to taking photos in museums as long as it doesn't disturb other visitors or pose a danger to artworks.



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