The Louvre & Ladurée

The Louvre is to Paris what the Metropolitan Museum of Art is to New York City. As an art museum in its most recent existence, the architectural structure of the Louvre, has been a focal point in central Paris since the late 12th century. Built on the city's western edge, the original structure that originated as a fortress was transformed into the modernized dwelling of François I and, later, the sumptuous palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The Musée du Louvre is said to house a fine collection of over 380,000 objects.

Here is a shot I took of the ever-popular Winged Victory of Samothrace. As stated in the Louvre website:

_{"The Winged Victory of Samothrace is one of the masterpieces of Hellenistic sculpture...The nude female body is revealed by the transparency of the wet drapery, much in the manner of classical works from the fifth century BC, while the cord worn just beneath the breasts recalls a clothing style that was popular beginning in the fourth century...the sculptor has been remarkably skillful in creating visual effects. The decorative richness, sense of volume, and intensity of movement are characteristic of a Rhodian style that prefigures the baroque creations of the Pergamene school (180-160 BC)."}

Wow.

The Louvre Pyramid is a glass pyramid commissioned by then French president François Mitterrand and designed by I. M. Pei a Chinese-American architect. Here is Gregg symmetrically synced with I. M. Pei and here I am!

Here is one of my favorite paintings at the Louvre, "The Intervention of the Sabine women" by Jacques-Louis David (1799, oil on canvas, 385 x 522 cm.) I got some flash-glare on the top, and it is obviously cropped, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with my image. According to Titus Livy. The History of Early Rome. The Easton Press. 1978., “This was the moment when the Sabine women, the origin cause of the quarrel, played their decisive part…. they braved the flying spears and thrust their way in a body between the embattled armies. They parted the angry combatants; they besought their fathers on the one side, their husbands on the other, to spare themselves the curse of shedding kindred blood.”

I don't need to be a mother to feel the deep maternal calling and instinct in this sculpture. I was profoundly moved by the fact that there once was a child on this mother's back and now only hand is left in it's place.

Burial of Atala, 1813 Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson (French, 1767–1824)Oil on canvas; 81 5/16 x 104 1/2 in.

The Three Graces Click to see
Grand Odalisque by Ingres Click

On our way to Ladurée! What is Ladurée? Only one of the most amazing Patisseries in Paris. Apparently all those great cakes/pastries in Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette movie were ordered by Ladurée. The pastry packages alone are works of art!
Edible Art Click to See!
More Edible Art Click!
Laduree Edible Art
Laduree Counter

Comments

[James Griffiths]

I checked your blog again today! France looks really fun. The sculpture with the hand still on is amazing! At first I had thought that was a deliberate decision to have only hand showing but I guess those old Romans (Greeks?) weren't as abstract as time made them out to be.

Tell Mr. Emery Happy Birthday!

(Do I get extra credit?)

[steph]

Paris looks amazing, that sculpture is incredible, as is all the other art. cute pic of you an Emery, and after looking at those yummy pastries im hungry for sweets.
p.s I win emery! a little slow today?

[paisley]

some truly amazing shots and excellent commentary... and dang... i want some of those sweets!!!!!