Museé de Louvre

The past few days have been absolutely filled to the brim. Art museums, architecture, politics, and so many sweets that I feel like my stomach might just burst.

It's all completely worth it, though.

Yesterday, I saw one of my absolute favorite paintings on our expedition to the Louvre. Physically seeing a piece of art that you have been greatly attached to is a bizarre experience. On one end of the spectrum, you feel like you know it better than the back of your hand. On the other, your expectations of the space, framing, and actual color might vary greatly from what you may have studied previously.

One of the things I never would have even thought of accounting for was the crowds. I understood that this was a famous painting, but I was never really grasped just how many people would have come through to see it. I wondered if they were drawn to the painting for any of the same reasons I became so attached to it in the first place.

I had a lot of fun sitting and photographing/sketching the movement of the crowds. 

Soon after, the floods cleared, and I had a brief moment of complete silence alone with the piece. I it could have been longer, but I felt my mind and eyes completely entangled with this painting. I wish it could have lasted longer.

I love the accentuation of her dimples of Venus. 

One of my absolute favorite spots on the painting. I stared at (and sketched!) this for a long time. 

I will make sure to post more in-depth looks at her soon.

Bonne nuit. 

Details

ok I really liked when we were talking this morning about having an ah-ha moment and i just had to post this because i freaked out when i found this. it was right at the end of my time with the piece so i want able to diagram it really. and it will be better with the pictures.

my moment was when Looked under the table one last time and saw these tracks which is how the table slides together. and then it clicked that all three parts will move at the same time.

so you would basically walk up to this super awesome oval table, unlock the chair with your super sweet Italian key and then once you were seated you would pull the handles toward your self and the table would split in half and the box that you can see in the other picture will rise up out of the table automatically.

i was freaking out when this clicked for me. and wow what an amazing piece of furniture.

Food Blog Number 1

Rashberry Torte - Tangy sweet and light, topped with a fresh rasberry.

Poulet Currry Crepe "Chicken curry crepe" with a light side salad - rich, creamy curry with moist chicken yum. Salad crisp and refeshing.

Ananas Frais "pineapple" - fresh, juicy, and sweet.

 

Escargot "Snails" - yummy buttery with a bit of pesto for a zing.

All things even out?

If I had to label Paris with one word according to our experiences today it would be: Symmetry! (And a drawing of a Jesus statue)

Michelangelo's Dying Slave

"That moment when life capitulates before the relentless force of dead matter" Richard Fly


This impressive figure, Dying Slave, was created between 1513 and 1516. Together with Rebellious Slave, it was meant for the tomb of julius II .but was not included because of lack of space in the smaller version dedicated in 1545. Michelangelo visualized the figures as imprisoned in the huge blocks of marble, and only by carefully removing the excess stone could he free them. In their creation, and in their final impact, the two slaves may symbolize the soul's struggle against the bonds of temptation and sin.




This sculpture grabbed my attention as soon as I set my eyes upon it.  The reason that as soon as I could snap a photograph of this large piece of stone Michelangelo could invasion the figure come to life.   Well maybe he couldn't do it that fast but his skill to capture not only the human body but his ability to capture and create the emotions of humanity its self is astonishing. I felt every hair on my body stand up when i looked upon this work of art.  This sculpture is truly one of the monuments of the world with its erotic and theatrical emotion.  


Rebellious slave 

Today we had a beautiful day for walking about Paris. We got to see a lot of really great places. We got to go up the Pantheon, which gave us a great perspective of the city. While looking out over this vast city full of large recognizable monuments, you are the Pantheon which is a Roman style of architecture, which makes you feel very small. The combination between these to made me feel at serene, not the entire time that I was there but while looking over Paris. I was very much so reminded that I am only a small fish in this huge water.

Notre Dame from the Pantheon

WHO Decides?

As we walked into Saint Chapelle I understand that the King had this building built to worship the relic of Jesus's Crown of thorns but who chose the colors? Decided the patterning on the walls, flooring, and ceiling. Even the structure set up? I would like to do a little research on this because as soon as I walked into this building it wasn't what I expected. I very much enjoyed it! Lots of color, texture, and mixed patterns. BEAUTIFUL glass and light as well. Now I would assume the King comes up with a plan or idea and maybe designers of the time come in and then execute his plan? Anyone know? If that is true well then it is a lot like today with designer and client ;). Notice in my pictures the detail of patterning and points meeting up with others, all the select colors and placement of tile VS columns... Don't you think the King being "KING" wouldn't have time to think about such things?

After the Split

So after we broke off into groups, Team Eric went up to the top of the Pantheon. It was an incredible view from the second floor balconies to look down at the expanse we had been looking at all after noon. The best was yet to come when we came out onto the outside balcony and viewed the Paris skyline. It was well worth the windings steps, which weren't real bad actually. After a quick bite to eat, we walked around for a while, looking in shops and meandering through the streets. We eventually came across the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts! We quickly began comparing it to MIAD. Here is the list I came up with...

-Old Building

-Smells like paint

-Located in a higher class neighborhood.

-Near a river.

-Has many high end restaurants and shops all around.

-It's falling into disrepair.

-Graffiti in the hallways.

-Main common area was fresh and new.

-There were smokers outside.

We had a good laugh about these similarities, although there was no ugly turquoise in

sight. The things that it does have going for it, besides all the famous people who have attended it, is well it is in Paris!!! And also it has high esteem throughout the world.

My most favorite part was its proximity to the Seine, and a bridge lines up perfectly with the street the school is on, and it was just swarming with groups of people sitting on the ground eating and laughing! Eric commented that that is how our river walk should be. Also, all the locks were on that bridge, giving the space this kitschy colorful look. I think

we should utilize the river walk like these Parisians were using the bridge, and also start a love locking movement on our part of the river walk! Then it will be like we brought Paris home with us.

going to attempt to explain this.

A slides down inside the bureau.

B folds down flat.

C and D are linked together and slide together simultaneously

E (the chair) slides in and can be locked in to place.

when it is all put together it will look like an ovular hall table.

from Florence 1820.

complexity

this was challenging to diagram.

An Interior Designers Interests