“Icons” is the theme chosen by Henri Loyrette for his very successful exhibition at Fondation Boghossian in Brussels. It is set in the magnificent art deco Villa Empain, built in 1930 by Louis Empain, age 22, on the avenue des Nations (now avenue Franklin Roosevelt) where all the embassies are settled. The house has gone through many hands from the … Read More
The reopening of La Samaritaine is a non event
I was not disappointed because I did not expect much. The new La Samaritaine is in a similar way as Le Bon Marché, a luxury store for famous brands with no spirit and no imagination, it is managed by the DFS group, duty free shopping. “Tout ça pour ça” as we say I French after more than 800 millions € … Read More
In Saint Quentin, there are many surprises!
The town of Saint Quentin, an hour and a half North East of Paris (70 minutes by train), is one of the places that I had wanted to visit for many years and I never managed the time to do so. It is famous for two things: the Musée Antoine Lécuyer with pastels by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, 1704-1788, and … Read More
At Villa Savoye, furniture is exhibited by Mobilier National
If, like me, you have long wanted to visit Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye in Poissy near Paris, but never took yourself to doing it! you now have a good excuse: to see the pieces of modern future lent by Mobilier national. The famous house feels a little bit more lived in thanks to these “young visitors” and its worn out … Read More
Book your tickets for Christo now!
I know that many of you will be coming to Paris for the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe. Sales for the tickets to have access inside the Arc de Triomphe and on the terraces have started and even though the wrapping of the Arc will be visible from the Champs Elysées and all the avenues around, it is a … Read More
My “spy” Georgia de Chamberet went to Buckingham Palace gardens
In celebration of the easing of lockdown, the Royal Collection Trust has been reopening its royal residences to the public. Although thousands of people visit the Buckingham Palace State Rooms and gardens every non-pandemic year, lingering and picnicking are a no-no. This year it’s different. There may be no royal garden parties, but the garden at Buckingham Palace is open to … Read More
Rodin and Picasso probably never met but …
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) and Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) probably never met or just briefly at the Bateau Lavoir in 1906, but two brilliant curators, Véronique Mattiussi at Musée Rodin and Virginie Perdrisot-Cassan at Musée Picasso, have decided to show them together with many common themes and shapes. The result is two beautiful shows which you should see in one go, if … Read More
The Pinault Collection is open and it is beautiful.
While waiting on line at 11 am with a group of Americans, I had the feeling that Paris was back on its feet. Foreign visitors are coming and English is being spoken on the street. You have to book online to visit Collection Pinault at Bourse de Commerce or you can pick up tickets across the street at an automatic teller, … Read More