Over his career spanning four decades, Bill Rau, the third-generation proprietor of M.S. Rau, has established an international reputation as an authority in fine art, antiques and jewelry. His expertise has led to the acquisition of significant pieces by esteemed museums around the globe, further elevating M.S. Rau's status as a worldwide cultural destination. Some of these museum partnerships include:

Bill Rau

Bill assumed leadership as President and CEO in 1995, transforming the gallery into a global destination. Situated in the French Quarter, the 40,000-square-foot showroom features eminent paintings by the world’s most celebrated artists, such as van Gogh, Monet and Renoir, as well as an unparalleled collection of rare gems and objets d'art. In addition, Bill's scholarly contributions are significant. His book, From Barbizon to La Belle Époque, is a comprehensive study of 19th-century European painting. In addition to this scholarly contribution, he has shared his expertise through articles in respected academic journals and international lectures. Notably, he was the youngest senior member accepted into the American Society of Appraisers.

In 2012, Bill established the Rau for Art Foundation, an initiative that provides scholarships and grants, allowing M.S. Rau to contribute to the Greater New Orleans community while fostering an appreciation for the arts among the city’s youth. Today, Bill is a member of the Wedgwood Society of New York and Boston, the American Cut Glass Association, the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, the Music Box Society International and the Young Presidents' Organization.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota
The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
New Orleans Museum of Art, Louisiana
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas
The Toledo Museum, Ohio
Complesso del Vittoriano - Ala Brasini, Rome
Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Missouri
Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec, Québec City
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts
Palazzo del Monte di Pieta, Padova
Dulwich Picture Garden, London
Musée National d’Histoire et d’Art, Luxembourg

Meadows Museum, Texas
Artizon Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, New York
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, California
Zaans Museum & Verkade, The Netherlands
National Museum of Australia, Canberra
The Cabildo, New Orleans, Louisiana
Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame, Indiana
Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York
Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins, Mougins, France
America's National Churchill Museum, Missouri
Trout Museum of Art, Wisconsin
Museum of Sex, New York