Before becoming a museum, the building on 12 Rue Cortot sheltered many famous artists. Claude de la Rose, Sieur de Rosimond 1645-1673 was the first owner in 1680.
	Auguste Renoir1841-1919 rented an atelier in 1876 when he worked on his illustrious painting « Le Moulin de la Galette. In 1896, 1896,Suzanne Valadon 1864-1938and her son Maurice Utrillo 1883-1955settled on the first floor and they lived here for the next five years. Demetrios Galanis, Greek painter and engraver 1879-1966 came to Paris in 1900 and lived in Rue Cortot for fifty years.
Childhood friends D’Othon Friez (1879-1949) and Raoul Dufy (1877-1953)shared an atelier on the first floor. From 1913 to 1941, poet Pierre Reverdy(1889-1949)took their place
A Willette Parce Domine 1885
In 1922 the city of Paris bought this building and renovated it. Claude Charpentier became the curator. In 1940 the Old Montmartre Society filled the building with Collections of Art.