Museums in Paris: Musée des beaux-arts de la ville de Paris

The Musée des beaux-arts de la ville de Paris (the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts) is one of the lesser known but excellent museums in Paris.  Plus, because it is a city museum, it is free to visit!

We recently visited the museum which is housed in the Le Petit Palais, itself a work of art.  Le Petit Palais, located between the Champs Élysées and the Seine, was built for the 1900 Universal Exposition.  The architect was Charles Giraut and the style is a mixture of Beaux Arts and earlier French architecture.  During the Exposition, the building served as a museum displaying the History of Art.  The building was well-liked by many, including the visiting King of Belgium who commissioned similar buildings in Belgium.  

The museum's collection of fine art is varied and amazing.  You can see for yourself.

Probably a della Robbia glazed terra cotta 

Another della Robbia 

Greg liked the work of art, a Louis XV clock, pictured below.

Who doesn't love musical monkeys?

Thanks for visiting the Musée des beaux-arts with us.

Shopping in Paris #2

Shopping in Paris can be an elegant experience.  

Recently, Susan was shopping for a gift at the Dior fragrance boutique around the corner from where we live.  Susan could have selected from a dozen different fragrance boutiques nearby.  She chose Dior because of the specific gift she had in mind.  

The boutique is elegant and brightly lit with all of the fragrances and lotions beautifully displayed.  

There is even a portrait of Christian Dior on the wall.

The person who helped Susan was gracious and friendly and offered a Susan a free sample of a jasmine scented perfume.   

Of course, the purchase was beautifully wrapped and bagged.  The crepe paper covering the purchase was even sprayed with perfume.  Oh la la.  

Thanks for shopping with us. 

Churches in Paris: Basilique Sainte Clotilde

While strolling on the Left Bank, we recently discovered the Basilique Sainte Clotilde.

It turns out that we had seen the church many times before.  From the window of our apartment, we can see the twin 225' spires along the skyline across the Seine.  We were happy to see the church up close.  

The church was completed in 1857 in the neo-Gothic style.  The church is dedicated to two saints.  The first is Ste. Clotilde, the second wife of early Frankish king Clovis, a pagan.  Clotilde urged Clovis to convert to Christianity, which he did.  As a result, Clotilde holds a special place in the history of France.   

The church is also dedicated to Ste. Valérie de Limoges.  In the third century in Limoges, Valérie refuses to marry a pagan Roman official.  The official orders her beheaded.  After the beheading, the executioner is struck dead by lightning and Valérie picks up her head and walks to church to attend mass and then dies.  By the way, after seeing all this, that Roman official converted to Christianity.      

We enjoyed touring the church.  Here is a a photographic tour of the interior.

Basilique Sainte Clotilde:  The nave of the church

Basilique Sainte Clotilde:  The main altar 

Basilique Sainte Clotilde:  A silver bowl and dove under the modern (2007) altar.According to Paris.Catholic.fr, the bowl and dove by the artist Goujdi evoke "the baptism of Clovis (asked under the luminous influence of his wife Sainte Clotilde). The bowl and the dove, baptism and confirmation, bear the third sacrament of initiation: the Eucharist." 

Basilique Sainte Clotilde:  The famous organ of the church

Basilique Sainte Clotilde:  The rose window of the east transept

Basilique Sainte Clotilde:  The rose window of the west transept

The sculpture in the church was very good.  The stations of the cross were depicted in bas-relief sculpture, like the one below. 

A modern sculpture of Pope John Paul II also caught our attention.

Thanks for visiting the Basilique Sainte Clotilde with us.

Springtime in Paris #9

Today is a national holiday in France, the fête du Travail, International Workers' Day.  Nearly all shops, offices and museums are closed.  Labor unions, Yellow Vests, and students are marching either in support of causes or in protest of policies in Paris.  One poll estimated that there were 40,000 demonstrators in Paris today. The police are everywhere.  There have been some violent acts, car burnings, tear gas and arrests.

Our apartment building is far from the demonstrations this time, fortunately.  However, the nearby streets are blocked to traffic and the Metro stations are closed.  Many luxury shops are boarded up so as to be protected ... just in case.

Bulgari on Place Vendôme

Today is also May Day, an ancient celebration of Spring.  In France, the day is celebrated by giving a sprig of muguet, lily of the valley.   Susan received muguet from dear friend Eliane (pictured below).

Apparently, on May 1, 1561, King Charles IX received muguet as a lucky charm.  As a result, the king offered muguet to the ladies of the court each year.  The custom lives on today.   

Since today is May Day, here is a sampling of lovely flowering trees and flowers.  

We hope your May Day has been lovely.