I just checked my email and Dr. Luehrman had sent me this picture and I wanted to include it for you.
Our little group in front of the world famous Moulin Rouge
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Musee D'Orsay and L'Orangerie
May 18
Today we started the day at the Musee D'Orsay. Because of the crowds of people, we arrived early and were among the first people to enter the museum. The D'Orsay had been remodeled since the last time I was there and it was great to have the whole museum back open.
Musee D'Orsay Exterior
Famous Clock in D'Orsay (D'Orsay web page)
We began our tour of this museum with the work of the Impressionists. This museum houses some truly iconic works of art and it was amazing to get to stand in front of them and see the brush strokes and color choices of masters like Monet, Renoir and Degas.
Above, Degas: La classe de danse (The Dancing class), c.1873-75 by Edgar Degas, Museé d'Orsay, Paris.
The Musee D'Orsay does not allow photographs of the artwork at this time. These images were sourced on the internet.
Below, VanGogh
La meridienne ou La sieste, d’apres Millet, 1889-90. Vincent van Gogh
The new renovated interior of the D'Orsay. The renovations allowed for a lot of natural light in the museum.
The Musee D'Orsay began its service as a train station. Here is a picture from the Museum website.
Next we looked at post-impressionists like Cezanne, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat. When we left the museum we all felt like we were steeped in beautiful art works.
As we were walking over to the Orangerie from the Musee D'Orsay, we walked over this bridge where the railings were covered with little locks. These locks were from Parisians and tourists committing their love to each other.
After a quick lunch we went to L'Orangerie which originally served as a greenhouse for the royal citrus trees.
Dr. Luehrman is working with the museum people to get our group inside.
When the building was renovated to serve as an art museum, Monet arranged and designed two rooms of the interior to showcase two full oval panoramic views of his pond with water lilies. These monumental works illustrate the pond and lilies capturing the changing quality of light and color throughout the day.
This museum also houses a significant collection of Renoir paintings and many post impressionist works as well.
Again, the museum does not allow us to take pictures, so I have found these on the internet to give you an idea of the experience.
After the museums, we scurried back to the hotel and the local shops to assemble a picnic dinner that we took up to Montmartre. Montmartre is a hill above the city of paris and a district that is now encompassed by the city of Paris. It used to be a small town outside of Paris and a home for artists and other bohemians. It is also near the famed Moulin Rouge. Montmartre was a favorite place to paint and study for artists such as Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Salvador Dali and Amadeo Modigliani. A fitting place for our students to hang out and relax after some really pretty grueling days of museum walking!
These pictures are the Neo Byzantine designed Sacre Coeur at the top of the hill at Montmartre.
The following images are from our evening picnic.
Today we started the day at the Musee D'Orsay. Because of the crowds of people, we arrived early and were among the first people to enter the museum. The D'Orsay had been remodeled since the last time I was there and it was great to have the whole museum back open.
The Musee D'Orsay does not allow photographs of the artwork at this time. These images were sourced on the internet.
La meridienne ou La sieste, d’apres Millet, 1889-90. Vincent van Gogh
The Musee D'Orsay began its service as a train station. Here is a picture from the Museum website.
Next we looked at post-impressionists like Cezanne, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Seurat. When we left the museum we all felt like we were steeped in beautiful art works.
As we were walking over to the Orangerie from the Musee D'Orsay, we walked over this bridge where the railings were covered with little locks. These locks were from Parisians and tourists committing their love to each other.
After a quick lunch we went to L'Orangerie which originally served as a greenhouse for the royal citrus trees.
When the building was renovated to serve as an art museum, Monet arranged and designed two rooms of the interior to showcase two full oval panoramic views of his pond with water lilies. These monumental works illustrate the pond and lilies capturing the changing quality of light and color throughout the day.
This museum also houses a significant collection of Renoir paintings and many post impressionist works as well.
Again, the museum does not allow us to take pictures, so I have found these on the internet to give you an idea of the experience.After the museums, we scurried back to the hotel and the local shops to assemble a picnic dinner that we took up to Montmartre. Montmartre is a hill above the city of paris and a district that is now encompassed by the city of Paris. It used to be a small town outside of Paris and a home for artists and other bohemians. It is also near the famed Moulin Rouge. Montmartre was a favorite place to paint and study for artists such as Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Salvador Dali and Amadeo Modigliani. A fitting place for our students to hang out and relax after some really pretty grueling days of museum walking!
This image was taken from the Arc de Triumph and shows the Sacre Coeur and the hill at Monmartre.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
There's more to the Louvre than Mona Lisa
May 16, 2012
Our days typically begin around 7:30 am with a true French Continental Breakfast. This is great if you like bread. We are served a croissant and a baguette with coffee or hot chocolate. We tend to eat somewhat family style.
left: Jeanne and Andrea, right: Rebecca, Kristin, Sally and Krista
Next, we get together in the hotel lobby to make announcements and get ready for the coming day. Today we had to reimburse our students for the audio guides that they bought at the Rodin museum.
Kristin
After that, we head to the Metro station that is across the street from our hotel and head to our destination. Today it was a full full day at the Louvre.
While I love the Louvre, I think it is one of the most stressful museums ever! We went first to see the Mona Lisa then it was down the Grand Gallery that houses the Italian Paintings and the Spanish paintings. One of our favorites on this wing was the seasonal "portraits" by Arcimboldo.
Sally
Here are some pictures of our scholars enjoying the Louvre:
Alex and Christine
Those of you who read DaVinci Code will remember that this is where the book ended: Right beneath I.M. Pei's inverted glass pyramid.
Dr. Luehrman applied for a "right to speak" permit so that he would be able to take us through some parts of the museum as a group tour and lecture. The Louvre has some special procedures and rules for groups and group leaders. Dr. Luehrman is taking us through the basement of the Louvre where during the excavation for the glass pyramids, they found the foundation of the original Medieval fortress. One of the areas excavated was the dungeon. Below, our scholars are posing for a picture huddled in one of the cells. From left to right, back to front are: Chryssa, Ariel, Rebecca, Christina. Krista, Bobbye and Christine.
Next we went to see the residence of Napoleon III. Here I am showing Chryssa and Alex a State Bed.
The day was VERY LONG and our feet hurt very badly but we were practically dripping with art. Alex joined Sally and I on an adventure to Ile St. Louis in the Seine where we had a great view of the Notre Dame after dark.
Thursday May 17 was our free day. So I took the day off!
Our days typically begin around 7:30 am with a true French Continental Breakfast. This is great if you like bread. We are served a croissant and a baguette with coffee or hot chocolate. We tend to eat somewhat family style.
Andrea left: Jeanne and Andrea, right: Rebecca, Kristin, Sally and Krista Next, we get together in the hotel lobby to make announcements and get ready for the coming day. Today we had to reimburse our students for the audio guides that they bought at the Rodin museum.
KristinAfter that, we head to the Metro station that is across the street from our hotel and head to our destination. Today it was a full full day at the Louvre.
While I love the Louvre, I think it is one of the most stressful museums ever! We went first to see the Mona Lisa then it was down the Grand Gallery that houses the Italian Paintings and the Spanish paintings. One of our favorites on this wing was the seasonal "portraits" by Arcimboldo.
Sally
We also enjoyed the large format paintings. Some of these, like the Coronation of Napoleon are quite large.
Alex and Christine
Those of you who read DaVinci Code will remember that this is where the book ended: Right beneath I.M. Pei's inverted glass pyramid.
Next we went to see the residence of Napoleon III. Here I am showing Chryssa and Alex a State Bed.
The day was VERY LONG and our feet hurt very badly but we were practically dripping with art. Alex joined Sally and I on an adventure to Ile St. Louis in the Seine where we had a great view of the Notre Dame after dark.
Thursday May 17 was our free day. So I took the day off!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Impressionism, Inauguration and Rainy Paris
May 15, 2012
A big day for the UCM crowd in Paris! BUT before I go on... in last night's post I was so delirious with exhaustion that I incorrectly identified Barbara as Beverly. My apologies.
The day began with a visit to the Rodin Museum. Rodin is the artist who gave us The Thinker. In the vein of cultural illiteracy one student asked if Rodin coined the phrase "I think therefore I am." After a chuckle, I can certainly see the connection! The Thinker was actually modeled after Dante Alighieri contemplating Hell. The Thinker can also be found on the Gates of Hell. We were all very impressed with the sensitivity of Rodin's sculptures.
The Thinker located on the Gates of Hell
this is my friend Sally thinking along with Mr. Alighieri
credit AFP Getty Images
credit Getty Images
From the Rodin Museum we went to Les Invalides (Church of the Golden Dome) to see the sarcophagus of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon's little sarcophagus - Note the people in the ambulatory for a sense of scale.
Musee Marmottan Monet was the next visit on our list today. This museum is private and does not allow us to take pictures. There is a really nice virtual visit available on the internet where you too can experience this beautiful collection of Monet's late works and the Marmottan collection of Empire style furniture. http://www.marmottan.com/visite/ We were pleasantly surprised to find a comprehensive exhibit of Berthe Morisot.
I had a great conversation with Alex and Bobbye today about Claude Monet and his later works. We talked about the aging eye, the very creative and highly productive later years of Monet's painting career. We also talked about the different ways that the very new technology of photography influenced the artists in Monet's circle. Impressionism reflects the essence of a moment; the artists sought to portray the effect of changing light, motion and emotion.
A few more pix and then I am going to bed!
Ariel hamming it up for the camera.
Krista, Rebecca and Christine (l to r)
A big day for the UCM crowd in Paris! BUT before I go on... in last night's post I was so delirious with exhaustion that I incorrectly identified Barbara as Beverly. My apologies.
The day began with a visit to the Rodin Museum. Rodin is the artist who gave us The Thinker. In the vein of cultural illiteracy one student asked if Rodin coined the phrase "I think therefore I am." After a chuckle, I can certainly see the connection! The Thinker was actually modeled after Dante Alighieri contemplating Hell. The Thinker can also be found on the Gates of Hell. We were all very impressed with the sensitivity of Rodin's sculptures.
Gates of Hell
Rodin House
The Thinker located on the Gates of Hell this is my friend Sally thinking along with Mr. Alighieri
Rebecca is another Great Thinker
Meanwhile on the Champs Elysees the Hollande Inauguration was in full swing. We actually got to see a dignitary's motorcade go by as we were walking to the Rodin museum. The hotel concierge indicated that rain on inauguration day was a bad omen.
credit AFP Getty Images
credit Getty Images
From the Rodin Museum we went to Les Invalides (Church of the Golden Dome) to see the sarcophagus of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Evidence of the increased security and military presence for the inauguration.
Napoleon's little sarcophagus - Note the people in the ambulatory for a sense of scale.
Musee Marmottan Monet was the next visit on our list today. This museum is private and does not allow us to take pictures. There is a really nice virtual visit available on the internet where you too can experience this beautiful collection of Monet's late works and the Marmottan collection of Empire style furniture. http://www.marmottan.com/visite/ We were pleasantly surprised to find a comprehensive exhibit of Berthe Morisot.
I had a great conversation with Alex and Bobbye today about Claude Monet and his later works. We talked about the aging eye, the very creative and highly productive later years of Monet's painting career. We also talked about the different ways that the very new technology of photography influenced the artists in Monet's circle. Impressionism reflects the essence of a moment; the artists sought to portray the effect of changing light, motion and emotion.
A few more pix and then I am going to bed!
Ariel hamming it up for the camera.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Art and Architecture from the Middle Ages
May 14, 2012
For the most part, we spent the day in the Middle Ages. With a trip to St Chapelle, the Latin Quarter, the Cluny Museum and Notre Dame, we were steeped in monumental architecture and spiritual art. We also got to learn about the Metro, how to read the Metro map and how to get back to the hotel. These were very important things to know!
Susan, Andrea and Beverly riding on the Metro
Iconic Art Nouveau entrance to the Paris Metro in the Latin Quarter
Krista, Kristin and Andrea walking through the Latin Quarter
Notre Dame, the Rose Window and a group picture.
Back row left to right: Kristin, Shannon, and Christina
Front row: Andrea, Kristine, Rebecca and Krista.
Did you happen to notice how many variations we have on Chris'? It can get a bit confusing at times!!!
For the most part, we spent the day in the Middle Ages. With a trip to St Chapelle, the Latin Quarter, the Cluny Museum and Notre Dame, we were steeped in monumental architecture and spiritual art. We also got to learn about the Metro, how to read the Metro map and how to get back to the hotel. These were very important things to know!
Susan, Andrea and Beverly riding on the Metro
Alex and Chryssa outside the Cluny Museum
Flamboyant Gothic Tracery inside the Cluny Museum
Krista, Kristin and Andrea walking through the Latin Quarter
Notre Dame, the Rose Window and a group picture.
Back row left to right: Kristin, Shannon, and Christina
Front row: Andrea, Kristine, Rebecca and Krista.
Did you happen to notice how many variations we have on Chris'? It can get a bit confusing at times!!!
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