"There is but one Paris," said Vincent van Gogh, and the Dutch master artist was but one of countless millions of visitors who have over the centuries been drawn by art to the French capital.

From museums such as the Louvre to the contemporary galleries which line the streets of such districts as Montmartre, the city is an art-lover's paradise but one which can intimidate at the same time, such is the depth of choice available.

This is especially the case when it comes to buying art in Paris, increasingly an option for the estimated more than 700,000 Chinese who make a pilgrimage to the city each year, as they travel there from a nation which now accounts for more than 40 percent of the world's art purchases each year, according to art industry trackers Artprice.

And as demand for art in Paris has increased so has the supply of services tailor-made to suit the needs of the modern visiting art connoisseur, with the likes of multi-lingual guides in museums and galleries becoming a must and even the most specific requirement now being attended to, from private gallery tour to a meeting with the artist. "Art is at the heart of Paris," says Domoina de Brantes, who serves as the "art concierge" at Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, offering what the hotel claims is the first such service in the city.

With a master's degree in the conception and production of cultural projects from the famed Sorbonne, De Brantes oversees exhibits at the hotel's Art District gallery and says "art tourists" in Paris are now also looking for services that are a little more personalized.

"I meet the client, I make sure I understand their specific requests," explains De Brantes. "If they want something like Chinese contemporary art then I research where in Paris we can get exactly want they want so the work is done for them. Plus with my contacts I can set up visits to galleries or I can go with them and take them on a private tour."

The art concierge concept was the brainchild of French architect and designer Philippe Starck, who was behind the refit of the 85-year-old Le Royal Monceau, which reopened in late 2010, and sits just off the Arc de Triomphe.

"He really wanted the hotel to be a place of culture and he wanted someone to create a link between our guests and the world of contemporary art," explains De Brantes. "For me it is a dream job as the world of art is the world I love and while I am helping serve the need of guests, it is a learning experience for me too as I research the artists they are interested in or the ones I think they might be interested in it. It helps to have local knowledge."

In terms of contemporary Chinese art, the likes of Wang Du - one of many Chinese artists to have a studio in the French capital - and the Shanghai-based Yang Yongliang with his very modern takes on the style and images of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) painters are still hot on art buyers' lips in Paris and much in demand.

But art lovers would be missing out if they were to stick to artists from one country or style, suggests De Brantes, who confesses to a special interest in the Paris' street art.

De Brantes also points to the work of locals Lionel Sabatte - a prolific artist who works across various media - and Baptiste Debombourg, known for his unique work with staples are, two of the artists featured recently at the Art District.

"These are two very unique and very talented artists," she says. "If we are not showing their work here then we will find out where their work is showing and - hopefully - even get in touch with the artist so the guests can meet them for themselves. Paris is the city of art and we hope everyone who comes here can enjoy our art."

sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 06/02/2013 page4)