The Petit Palais
Paris, France
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| The Petit Palais, Paris, Triple Arched Entrance by DG Hudson |
Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, this building is now the home of the City of Paris' Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de la ville de Paris). Construction began in October of 1897 and was completed in April 1900.
The image above was taken from a moving vehicle as we passed by, but there are some details you don't see until you look at the image later. The triple arches at the entrance capture the eye immediately, but I later noticed the sculptures on the sides of the steps, the French tricolour flags and the gilded gate. I did notice the posters announcing what was showing at that time.
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Egyptian Antiquity
Louvre Museum
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| Antiquity Grooming Implements, Egyptian display at Louvre, by DG Hudson |
The items in the images above were necessities - for any woman of that era wanting to ensure her grooming. Quality was determined by what one could afford, whether wooden, ivory or other materials commonly used in that time. Combs, hair picks, mirrors, and some small items are shown.
Crafted from various materials, we see some grooming tools carved more elaborately than others. Imagine Cleopatra's female friends (if there were any) using these implements. By keeping them protected at the Louvre, these items have endured, although the mirrors seem to have lost their reflective ability.
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Arc de Triomphe, Paris
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| French Soldiers, at Arc de Triomphe re-Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by DG Hudson |
A small group of soldiers marching before a dedication to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe. We saw this event in passing, so not sure of the reason for it, but many onlookers were there to observe. Note the umbrellas among the spectators, as a light rain was falling.
When photos are taken 'on the fly', we don't always know the details, but the image is preserved and the location should be identified as soon as possible to make the image more informative when viewed in retrospect.
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A Gilded Gallery
Versailles Palace, France
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| Versailles, the Sun King's Palace - Gallery Furnishings, by DG Hudson |
The furnishings at Versailles were lush and designed for maximum effect, especially to impress. That gilded lady is wrapped around a light fixture which may at one time have held candles to light the galleries at night.
A tour guide told us some of the furnishing were 'appropriated' by various persons during times of strife in Paris, and some have been acquired anew via ebay and other auction sites. Looting is something that has been considered the victor's right for centuries. . .
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Do you sit and peruse your photographs remembering when and where they were taken? Do you look at them for inspiration in your writing, for blog or a story?
I'd be interested in knowing how you view images, e.g., the difference in an image of a speeding car in a Grand Prix race as opposed to a tranquil water scene? You get the picture? used to be a common question for 'do you understand what I'm trying to say'.
Please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and I'll reply. Thanks for dropping by!
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References
All images in this post taken by DG Hudson, on location in France.
* outtake - a length of film, etc. rejected in editing. Definition In Oxford Dictionary,Canadian version.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_Palais The Petit Palais Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles Palace of Versailles
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