July 7 in Paris

Today is a workday with Alice.   She has the Louvre on the program.   We plan to understand the Louvre that Thomas Jefferson so loved and to visit the galleries and paintings that influenced him.  Since Alice is at heart a teacher, she includes background to help understand the time and place.  First, we talked about the palace and how it evolved over time.  Then we went inside to have a look.  We time traveled again through collections of art that influenced the painters of the late 1700’s.  Next, we focused on Jefferson’s favorite artist Jacques Louis David.  David was a Neoclassic painter meaning in Alice’s words “heroic subjects of history meant to inspire patriotism and civic loyalty”.  David was very influential from the time before the American Revolution and during and after the French Revolution.   Jefferson admired him, met him along with other important artists of the day, and bought copies of his paintings for the elegant residence/embassy on the Champs Elysees. 

For a break, we walked to the Palais Royal.  This important area and beautiful garden has always been a hot spot in Paris.

 Franklin, Adams, Jefferson and many others visited this hub of culture.   Alice recounted that a young Napoleon visited there at the same time that Jefferson frequented the area.  Perhaps they crossed paths, never knowing how important each would be to the other in just a few years.   (Remember the Louisiana Purchase).

After a break for lunch and Alice going back home, Perry and I ventured on to another favorite museum.   We visited the Orangerie, home of Les Nympheas.   These are the huge water lily paintings gifted to the French people by Claude Monet.   The goal of his gift was to provide a respite for the people of Paris from the hustle and bustle of city life.  The building has been renovated and does just that.   Even with a multitude of tourists, the rooms with his paintings are cool, quiet and serene.   One can almost become enveloped in the colors and light.  I spoke to one of the museum guards, and she said that in the mornings she often has the room and the paintings to herself.  What a wonderful treat that would be. 

We returned to the Louvre for more touring of famous and not so works of art.   Although it is huge place, sometimes the crowds and noise are just overwhelming.  We found a friendly bistro near the apartment for an early dinner and were ready to end the day. 

One more note: We noticed that several tour groups have stopped at the corner of rue Bailleul and rue l’Arbre de Sec.  (That’s the corner of “my” apartment building).   Researching a bit turned up a reference to the first restaurant in Paris being on this street.   Also, there is a mysterious symbol  engraved on the corner of the building.

I’m still trying to find out about that.   Take a look and help me gain more info.