Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Musee D'Orsay

Paris is amazing--you could visit art exhibits for weeks before you ran out of things to do. On Sunday we went to the Musee D'Orsay, which was absolutely lovely. I didn't get a chance to go there last time and it was at the top of my list. All in all, it's one of my favourite things that I've done in Paris so far. They have a spectacular collection or artwork, including a good number of Symbolist paintings (this category is similar to, and often includes the Pre-Raphaelites). I even actually got to see one of my favourite Sir Edward Burne Jones paintings there, which is pictured below!

One of my favourite paintings at the Musee was actually this one, by Gustav Klimt ("The Kiss" is probably his most famous painting). It's called "Rosiers sous les Arbres" and I just adored it. I believe that I've seen the painting on notecards before, but it is sooo much better in person.

The same also goes for the Monets. If you like Monet, Musee D'Orsay is a great place to go--they have so many, and they're so good! I have to admit that I always considered Monet somewhat bland before. Well, no more! They are absolutely fabulous! I tried taking pictures, but I've decided not to post them, because they seriously don't do justice to the paintings (that sounds so elitist, but it's simply true. It feels like taking a photo of Joshua Bell playing Mozart and calling it a great piece of music...). At any rate, Monet is definitley meant to be seen, not photographed. Which is really too bad, since he is so popular.

One picture I've included anyway is this one by Van Gogh. It's called Fritillaire Couronne Imperiale (1886). I do hope I spelled it right! I just loved it. Van Gogh is another artist that I've decided is just not fair to reproduce in print. There's simply too much texture in his paintings to reproduce them in photos. Ah well! I've done my best!


I hope everyone is having a great week! I'll post more later!

4 comments:

K Spoering said...

I love the Van Gogh... it's not one I've seen before. You always think you 'know' him because his works has been put out there in so many forms, then you see something 'new' and realize again how amazing his work is!

alice c said...

The last time we went to the Musee D'Orsay we saw an exhibition of Cezanne and Pissarro - it was quite an eye opener.

I love going up behind the clock face - did you have the chance to do that?

Unknown said...

beautiful pictures and so fantastic:)

happy weekend :)

Sheramy Bundrick said...

That's one of my favorite van Goghs in the Orsay. :-) You're right about photos not doing his canvases justice: there's so much *texture* in the real thing!

How are you liking the Hotel College du France? I thought about staying there last year but decided to return to the Hotel St-Jacques around the corner instead.

Have fun!
Sheramy
vangoghschair.blogspot.com