The museum countdown continues...

Monday May 2, we went to see the second exhibit at L’Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) entitled Paris in the Time of the Impressionists: the Masterpieces of the Musee D'Orsay.  The exhibit focused on the new Paris and the life it created from 1850 to 1914.  We learned interesting details of Haussmann's planning and building, including the regulation of which floors of apartments had balconies that either were continuous or not.  The Impressionists during this time focused on the city's modernity (e.g. Monet- Saint Lazaire train station), the demimonde, and the cafe life.  We learned that Charles Garnier who designed the Paris Opera House won the competition, which had attracted 171 entries.

The exhibit focussed on various themes: Building the New Paris, Scenes from Parisian Life and Tragic Paris, which dealt with the Paris Commune, and a number of assassinations.  Wonderful exhibit.  One wonderful quote was "There is nothing truly interesting in the world except Paris... everything else is just scenery."  We agree.  For more info see: http://www.paris.fr/english/english/event-the-impressionists-at-the-hotel-de-ville-in-paris/rub_8118_actu_97309_port_19237   We went for a walk later in the afternoon to the beautiful Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, built by Henri IV from 1605-1612.

An entrance to Place des Vosges

On Tuesday May 3, we awoke at 4:30 a.m. and made the mistake of turning on our Ipad and Iphone to see the result of the Election. We then stayed up to follow all the machinations.  We are thinking that maybe we should stay in Paris!!!!  Sari and I went for a run.  Then we headed out to the Musée Marmottan Monet in the 16th arrondissement to see another wonderful exhibit entitled Raoul et Jean Dufy: Complicité et rupture.  I have always been a big fan of Raoul Dufy (1877-1953), but was unfamiliar with the work of his younger brother Jean (1988-1964).  They had been very close in their early life and there are many similarities in their choice of colours (both used a wonderful blue for their sky) and painted many seaside scenes near Le Havre, their home town.  The two brothers had a falling out in 1937.  Jean had quit work and had done a lot of research and drawing for Raoul's magnificent La Fée électicité which is found in Paris' Museum of Modern Art (it details the history of electricity and is 200 feet long and 30 feet high).  Raoul failed to acknowledge Jean's contribution and the brothers went their separate ways.  Yet their paintings continued to have many similarities.  Another link if you are interested:  http://www.marmottan.com/francais/expositions/exposition-raoul-jean-dufy.asp

Room in the museum that houses a number of Berthe Morisot pictures

We had a long walk back, stopping for some Lebanese goodies at Noura again and a nap at the fountains in the Tuileries.  For Sari's birthday dinner we went to Glou, a wonderful restaurant in the 'hood.  Very buzzy, with good food and excellent wine.  Sari and I had lamb with potatoes and oyster mushrooms- delicious flavours.  Here's Sari with the salad course.

Damm that bird- a pic in the Tuileries

Birthday dinner for Sari

On Wednesday May 4, Allan and Sari ran.  We then started our walk to Montparnasse to the Musée Bourdelle to see an exhibit of Madame Grès's couture (1903-1993), sponsored by the Paris fashion museum that is closed for renovation.  Near the Palais de Justice we saw a big demo.  We, of course had to check it out--- it was a big demo of public sector lawyers, all dressed in their robes.  Great scene.

Lawyers demo

The Musée Bourdelle is housed in the former house and studio of the sculpteur Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929).  Antoine Bourdelle was a student of Rodin's, but most of his works are huge and overwhelming.  We took some pictures of the few pieces we liked.  However, the dresses, drawings and photos of the work of Madame Grès intermingled with the sculptures were brilliant.  She was a master of draping and had a personal interest in sculpture.  

Sketches

Burdelle's Adam- a piece we liked

We stopped at a wonderful Japanese patisserie so that Alain could have a beautiful croissant with Matcha green tea and pistachio.  We ended the day at Les Deux Magots for a glass of wine before heading home for dinner.