PARIS - A Flaneur's View at Halloween

In the spirit of the haunting season, the following images are from a flaneur's walk through Paris near All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween.


Notre Dame Cathedral

A Pigeon at dusk in Notre Dame Square by DG Hudson

A looming tower of Notre Dame lends an ominous air to this photo, as does the lighting. The pigeon showing its beautiful wingspan was hotdogging it for the camera. Shortly after, a great flutter of these birds rose in the air around the statue of Charlemagne. There is much history in this one spot. Several churches have existed here before. The center of Paris is in Notre Dame Square. Roman ruins can be found beneath street level and are visible in the Crypt Archeologique.


***

Montmartre Cemetery

Montmartre Cemetery, Paris, by DG Hudson

As we made our way with a walking tour group up the hill to Sacre Coeur, we stopped at the Montmartre Cemetery. In the photo above, note the design of the rounded monument on the right with the pinkish exterior. It has the look of Victoriana, but I couldn't confirm that. At one time, this cemetery would have been outside the Paris city limits.



Montmartre Cemetery corner, Paris, by DG Hudson

In certain parts of Montmartre Cemetery, Paris, our modern times encroach on the stately tombs of the past. Those lying beneath the overpass lived in times when only the sound of horses' hooves hitting the cobbled streets could be heard. A statue of a man lies in repose on that solid white block in the foreground.

***


Pere Lachaise Cemetery

In Pere Lachaise Cemetery, monuments date from many different eras. Some commemorate horrific events, such as war, or disaster where many lost their lives. This is grief.

Memorial in Pere Lachaise, Paris, by DG Hudson

In a place like Pere Lachaise Cemetery, a story exists behind each portal, door or entrance shown. These are family tombs.

Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris by DG Hudson

***

Hope you have a pleasantly creepy Halloween! Are you fond of cemeteries, and if so, do you write horror? Have you every been into a crypt or cemetery on Halloween? Would you want to?

***

Archaic Weapons - History Revisited

Cannon to the left and cannon to the right, weapons which caused destruction to castle walls and fortifications now aim forever outward in defense.

Cannon in Paris, Hôtel des Invalides and Museum, by Green Eye.

The building above: Hôtel des Invalides

A hospital for veterans and an Army museum, this distinguished building had an important purpose.  In 1670, King Louis XIV decided to build the hospital "Hôtel Royal des Invalides" for the wounded homeless soldiers of its wars. Note the cannon in the foreground of the photo.

France frequently recycled the metal from captured cannon. These perhaps were French cannon kept for historical purposes, and installed as a reminder of what is owed to those who fight for their country.

More information and photos:
http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/invalides.htm

***

Weapons or knives on display in the Antiquities section, at the Louvre Museum. Hiding a dagger in the folds of a cloak seems appropriate with the designs shown below. Tools and artifacts from Antiquities can whet the imagination as to their use in the era in which they were formed.

Louvre Museum, Knives and artifacts in Antiquities, by DG Hudson

Small artifacts, knives, pipes, and carved items are included in the photo above. These were in the Egyptian exhibit. I photograph many of these images which may be useful as objects in my novels. I want to remember the little things, the traditions, the craft shown in some of these objects. Hand made survivors of time, these objects were part of someone's life centuries ago.


***

The Carnavalet Museum, Paris, is a museum dedicated to the history of the city of Paris and the French Revolution.

Old metal signs used by French shops adorn the entrance, as you discover room after room decorated in lush city style. No flash photography is allowed and some of the paper artifacts can't be photographed. The light is subdued in the rooms, as it would have been in the days before electricity. The low light protects what time has treasured and adds a touch of atmosphere.



French swords shown below in the Carnavalet Museum. This was a room in a French town mansion, completed in 1560. The reflection* in the display glass shows the striped wallpaper on the opposite wall.

Swords in the Carnavalet Museum, by DG Hudson

Flintlocks and a cuirass, two objects which bring to mind legions of soldiers, with the officers and nobility in the best armor they could afford.

Carnavalet Museum, Paris, by DG Hudson

Archaic weapons fascinate us, and history shows us that our ancestors felt the same way. A finely crafted and well-kept weapon was an object to be proud of in earlier ages.


Flintlocks

At the beginning of the 17th century, the flintlock mechanism replaced earlier firearm technology and continued in use for over two centuries. French court gunsmith Marin le Bourgeoys made the first flintlock firearm for King Louis XIII in 1610.


Cuirass (French)

A piece of armour (armor spelling also used); formed from a single or multiple layers of metal or other strong, dense material. A cuirass covers the torso front and back (using two pieces joined) to protect the torso.

***

*Photographer visible in reflection, due to lack of polarizing filter for the small digital camera. There's always something. . .

***

Are you interested in antique weapons from a particular time period? Does weaponry play a part in your novel's world building? Have you visited many antique weapon displays in museums?

Please share in the comments and thanks for dropping by!


***

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuirass

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flintlock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Invalides Les Invalides

Carnavalet museum (a post of mine from the A to Z challenge)

***

VANCOUVER Views - The Marine Building

A landmark building in Vancouver was completed in 1929, when the world seemed black and white.

The Marine Building, Vancouver, 1929 - Canada PD**

". . .some great crag rising from the sea, clinging with sea flora and fauna, tinted in sea-green, touched with gold."

This description by the builders, 'McCarter and Nairne', gives insight into the Art Deco design and its purpose.

The Marine Building, Vancouver, by DG Hudson

With its heritage design, the architecture of this building has proven adaptable for certain period films. The building has been used for film and tv productions, such as Timecop, Smallville, Blade Trinity, Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.


In Vancouver, drive westward on Hastings until it meets Burrard Street. There at the end is the soaring Art Deco building at No. 355. There was an observation deck, but during the Depression the 25 cents admission  proved unaffordable for most. Currently, there are no public galleries in the building.





The Marine Building, Vancouver, by DG Hudson

***

The design on this front door is impressive, meant to frame the doormen who stood in front of the brass doors when they opened in 1930 and showcasing the fine quality of its craftsmen. Business offices occupy this building today.

Marine Building Entrance, by DG Hudson

***

Highlighted against the Marine Building, a dolphin sculpure in the photo below reflects our ocean heritage. Only a few blocks away, you can find a city beach and a seawall walk. The skyline of a vibrant city is always changing, so photograph that building before it's hidden behind another or gone forever.

Vancouver - Sculpture and Marine Bldg, by DG Hudson

***

Are you a fan of architecture or Heritage buildings? OR, did you see any of the movies listed above? Do you photograph buildings for description purposes or because you like the design of the structure?

Please share your answers in the comments, and thanks for dropping by!

***

References:

*Marine = of or related to shipping or naval matters; not used in a military sense

Marine Building Detailed Art Deco designs Blue designs framing front entrance):

 Close ups of Marine Building - details of design, Marine Building

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Building wiki, The Marine Building

The History of Metropolitan Vancouver - Vancouver Archives

***

**1929 - Canadian Public Domain = Image, The Marine Building

This Canadian work is in the public domain in Canada because its copyright has expired for one of the following reasons: it was subject to Crown copyright and was first published before 1963; Refer to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marine_Building_1929.png

***

PARIS - Outside the Café

Be aware of your surroundings, especially when travelling. In a city like Paris, surprises can be just around the corner.

 



Cafe de la Paix*, Paris, by DG Hudson

Streetwise

A diner, sitting two tables away at a favorite sidewalk bistro, stood and handed a half sandwich to a sad looking female walking by outside the surrounding glass. The woman outside the partition quickly accepted the food. Intrigued by the generosity of the woman dining and the acceptance of the woman on the outside, we witnessed this scene twice, several days apart. None of the café staff was near. Was there a connection between the people? Outcast family? That one scene could be the seed of a story.

Observation: Kindness touches the heart. We can't take care of all who suffer, but each little bit helps.

 

***
 

Bomb Threat at the Eiffel Tower (in Autumn 2010).
 

 

Eiffel Tower, Paris, by DG Hudson

 

 

We had just finished a walk by the Seine and were waiting for the tour bus when several military trucks pulled up to the curb and quietly started to make their presence known. They walked armed, guns in hand, looking at everyone in the area near the Eiffel Tower. This was done in a non-intrusive but direct manner at everyone; assessing without any aggressiveness. We suspect they were scanning for a type.

 

 

Our tour bus pulled up just then and turned into the curb, effectively blocking the military access. Not a good move, but expertly handled by the leader of this troop; he quietly told the bus driver to move to another area further on. Cool competence by this officer made those of us standing by feel better about the situation. The bomb alert at the Eiffel Tower made the international news that night.

Observation: Trust in those who remain calm under pressure. This was cool French professionalism, as they tried not to alarm the tourists and bystanders.

***


 At the Art Gallery
 

Musee d'Orsay, Paris, by DG Hudson

 

Nutella crepes

 

The Musee d'Orsay is situated on the left bank of the Seine River, housed in the former Gare d'Orsay railway station. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings are on view in this gallery. The courtyard also has a certain charm.

Elephant statue, courtyard Musee d'Orsay, by DG Hudson

 Our heads were filled with visions of Renoir, Monet, and Pissarro as we left the gallery, but we were hungry after walking through the museum. A few food vendors in the gallery courtyard were open. The smell of warm banana and chocolate drifted from the crepe stone of one of the foodcarts. We ordered one and sat on stairs off to the side of the courtyard which were clean enough for jeans. Within minutes, we were joined by several groups of kids with teachers, perhaps on a field trip. Unexpected, but nice to see schoolchildren on an outing in Paris. French schoolchildren at this gallery were exemplary. Then, I remembered the movie, The Red Balloon.

Observation: Children remind us there is still hope in the world, untainted by the cares of governments.

***

Have you been in a situation where you weren't sure if you should get worried or stay calm? Have you seen something that restored your faith in your fellow man?  Or - Any food tastes that remind you of a place or city?

Please share your thoughts in the comments. I'll reply.

***

References:

Cafe de la Paix

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_de_la_Paix The photo above is a historical well-known cafe, but not the one where the vignette took place. 

Musee d'Orsay Gallery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_d'Orsay Musee d'Orsay - photos of the museum and a list of the painters represented.

***

Claude Monet, Impressionist Artist

Water Lilies perch on the reflective pond. A small boat floats under the willow tree, in front of an arched bridge hidden by the foliage. An artist of Impressionist vision painted here, in Giverny, France.

Monet's Water Garden, Giverny, Fr. by DG Hudson

Claude Monet
1840 - 1926

Claude Monet, Impressionist Artist, PD-WC*

A prolific painter of the French Impressionist movement, Oscar-Claude Monet was also one of its founders. He was joined by his fellow artists and friends Auguste Renoir, Frederic Bazille, Camille Pissarro and others. They were painters of the en plein air method (painting in the outdoors, completed in one sitting). This new painting style focused on the interplay between light and color, and how a light source defines an object and its color. His multiple studies document the changing versions of a haystack or a cathedral.


In 1870, Claude met and claimed Camille Doncieux as his muse. They moved to Argenteuil in December 1871. Camille modeled for her husband and other artists early in their relationship. She posed for the famous Camille, or 'The Woman in the Green Dress'. She appears often in Monet's paintings wearing a blue and white striped dress. She was also painted by the artists Renoir and Manet. The second son Michel, was born in 1878, a few years after his older brother Jean, in 1867.

On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt, Claude Monet 1868,PD-WC

In the photo above, the figure is likely Camille Monet. This is an early example of Impressionistic style.

Camille Monet became very ill in 1876, and never recovered her health. On September 5, 1879, she died of tuberculosis (or possibly cancer) at the age of 32. Monet painted his wife on her death bed as if he wanted to hold onto her spirit a bit longer. Did he regret the time he devoted to his art? Could he have done otherwise? She found the love of her life, and he loved her. Perhaps for Camille, that was enough. Claude died of lung cancer in 1926. He was 86 years old. He is buried in Giverny, France.


According to a tour guide at Monet's Garden, Michel, the only heir, died in an auto accident in 1966, and upon his death, the house, the garden and the water lily pond became the property of the French Academy of Fine Arts. Claude lived here with his second wife, but the gardens he nurtured for Camille. 


The Monet home in Giverny.



The Monet House, Monet Gardens, Giverny, by DG Hudson

A sense of serenity lives at Monet's Gardens. I'm glad the home, studio, and surrounding gardens were restored. This remains a tour attraction which draws many visitors each year.

Monet's Gardens, Giverny, Fr. by DG Hudson

Are you familiar with Claude Monet's paintings and other art work? Did you know of his muse and later his wife, Camille? Do you have a favorite painting by Monet? Do you prefer his people paintings or his landscapes?

Please share your thoughts in the comments and thanks for stopping by!

***

Claude and Camille, the book. . . A novel about the artist and his first wife, by Stephanie Cowell. My book review on Rainforest Writing Blog: Claude and Camille. Updated to show review October 26, 2013.

***

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Monet Claude Monet, wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Doncieux Camille Monet, wiki

***

The photo of Claude Monet and the painting used in this post are from Wikipedia Commons, and in the Public Domain.
Note: copy/paste problems with WC.

***

Camille Pissarro - Artist and Father Figure

In 1855, a young artist who would influence Impressionism and Post-Impressionism moved to France from Venezuela. Pissarro, part French (his father) and Creole (his mother), was born in 1830 on the island of St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.


Camille Pissarro
1830-1903

Camille Pissarro and wife, Julie, 1877, PD*WC,

Camille Pissarro was a father role model to many of his fellow Impressionist painters, especially the younger artists. He wanted to 'paint without artifice and grandeur', to show real people in everyday settings. A few of the artists he influenced were: Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gaugin, and Vincent van Gogh. Pierre-Auguste Renoir called him 'revolutionary' for portraying the common man.

The Paris Salon, the historical arbiter of tasteful art, disliked the new style movement and refused some of the Impressionist painters in 1863. Pissarro had previously shown his work in the Salon, but now formed part of the Salon des Refuses (exhibition of rejects).

Impressionists preferred painting outdoors and highlighting the beauty in nature. This style of painting studied the effects of varying light levels, different seasons, and time of day on various subjects. The paintings were often completed in one sitting, with subsequent variations following. Pissarro's painting, Landscape at Pontoise, is shown below.





Landscape at Pontoise, 1874, Camille Pissarro *PD-WC

In 1859, Pissarro met Claude Monet, Armand Guillaumin and Paul Cezanne. All of these younger artists were also painting in the new realistic style. The commonality between these artists was their dissatisfaction with the Paris Salon. An art movement was gathering speed.

In 1871, Pissarro married his mother's maid, a vineyard grower's daughter, who became mother to their seven children. They lived in Pontoise and Louveciennes, both of which furnished him with ideas for his paintings.


Pissarro and fifteen aspiring artists established a collective society of painters in 1873. Called the Société Anonyme des Artistes, Peintres, Sculpteurs et Graveurs, it existed because Pissarro kept the group together. His gentle guidance and his encouragement of his fellow artists drew new artists to the group.


***

The Depths of Glory, by Irving Stone.

A fictional biography of Camille Pissarro, artist and father to the Impressionist movement. The Depths of Glory explores the artist's relationship with other great painters of the time. It's a great 'background' novel for learning about the art collective that Pissarro fostered. This title is one of three great books on artists by Irving Stone.


***

Did you know about the artist, Camille Pissarro? Do you like paintings or prefer a certain style? Have you heard of the book, Depths of Glory?

Please share in the comments. Let me know if you've seen Pissarro paintings or other Impressionist work in art galleries in your area. Thanks for visiting!

***

For more on the Artist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Pissarro - Camille Pissarro, wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_des_Refus%C3%A9s - Salon des Refuses

Image Credits
*PD = Public domain, WC= Wikipedia Commons

Photograph of Camille Pissarro and Wife

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years

Painting, oil on canvas

The work of art depicted in this image and the reproduction thereof are in the public domain worldwide. The reproduction is part of a collection of reproductions compiled by The Yorck Project. The compilation copyright is held by Zenodot Verlagsgesellschaft mbH and licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.

***

PARIS - A Door

What do they mean to you?

Doors let us in or keep us inside, they make us wonder what's behind them. A door allows us to pass from one location to another. A doorway can also be called a portal. Much can be learned from the size, design and the materials used to craft the door.


In a building in old Paris . . .

Paris Doors, Marais, by DG Hudson

Behind these bright blue doors is an 18th century building with residential apartments on four floors above the 1st floor entrance. You need strong arms to open and shut these sturdy, heavy doors. The size and thickness speak of earlier times.


***


Or the front door of a famous artist from the 1800s. . .

In a different century, the Van Gogh Brothers, Vincent and Theo, lived behind these simple blue doors. This famous artist site in Montmartre is identified by the plaque to the left of the main door. This route was part of a guide-led small-group walking tour of Montmartre.

Former home of Van Gogh Brothers, Paris, by Green Eye

***

A Golden Door fit for a King. . .

The door in the photograph below is one of the doors into the Royal Inner Chambers at Versailles. Note the royal crown in the top medallion. Only those truly in the King's inner circle were allowed beyond these doors.

Versailles, Door to Royal Chambers, by DG Hudson

***

In a place of rest. . .

In Pere Lachaise, doors add to the design interest of the monuments. The arched door on the left of the photo below opens inward to allow a moment's reflection. Further up the hill, other structures beckon us onwards.

Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, by DG Hudson

***

Doors at Moulin de Fourges, a French country inn

In the front of the 200-year-old Moulin de Fourges Inn, a river flows by the open deck. The same river provided power when this was a working mill. This picturesque inn located between Giverny and Versailles hosts tour groups for lunch.



 

Doors in a French Country Inn by DG Hudson

 

 

***

To a child, there's a whole world of wonder on the other side of any door. To an animal at the vet's, his worst nightmare is on the other side of any of those doors.

***

How do you interpret doors? Have you used doors in your writing to signify an underlying meaning? Please share in the comments and thanks for dropping by!


For more Doors, see this post by fellow blogger, The Words Crafter, it's another take on doors and how interesting they can be.

***

A link to The Doors, in case you were looking for that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XWQrt00_NM The Doors, Roadhouse Blues

***

References:

http://thewordscrafter.blogspot.ca/2013/07/fascination-doors.html The Words Crafter's blog - The Journey South, Fascination Doors.

http://dghudson.blogspot.ca/2012/01/paris-pere-lachaise-cemetery.html Blogpost about Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

***