La Malmaison is the fairly small country house that Josephine found for Napoléon and herself in 1799 ; it is located in Rueil, a chic suburb 30 mns west of Paris. The long tree lined avenue, which used to be the main road from St Germain to Paris, leads to the charming « Consular style » house that is especially … Read More
Indulge in softness
If you have never tried a pair of linen or Egyptian cotton sheets, this is the time and place start. It took me about forty years to understand that and then, I got addicted. “Vis à Vis” is a fairly new shop hidden in a courtyard of Faubourg St Honoré, between Lanvin and Gucci. The atmosphere is cold and intimidating … Read More
Giverny forever
The waterlilies were not in bloom and Hugues Gall, the brilliant President of the Monet Foundation was not in town, but our day in Giverny was nonetheless scintillating. My initial desire was to visit the Degas exhibition at the Musée des Impressionismes (former American Museum) and I picked a very sunny day to drive up to Giverny (one hour from … Read More
A new glass roof for Chantilly
The occasion was festive and « the Friends of Musée Condé » in Chantilly, could be proud of themselves for having contributed to the restoration of the paintings from the famous Duc d’Aumale collection. Pierre Antoine Gatier, architect in chief of Monuments Historiques, was discussing the color of the original 1895 mural fabrics by Binant, which he managed to save. … Read More
Treasures of sand and fire
It is hard to make a choice among the 600 pieces of glass that are exceptionnally exhibited at the Galerie Rivoli of Musée des Arts Décoratifs. This attempt to illustrate the history of glass making in Venice and in France but also in China and Vienna since the Renaissance is a great success and a quiet moment to enjoy.
Philippe Entremont, intimate
What a privilege to go on a Sunday night to Musée Jacquemart André and listen to one of the greatest French pianists, Philippe Entremont, who played Mozart and Schubert. The private museum, one of the most visited in Paris thanks to Culturespace which manages it, is the former Hôtel particulier of sculptor Nélie Jacquemart and her rich husband Edouard André. … Read More
Le salon de l’agriculture
I go to yearly Salon de l’agriculture with the same curiosity, I go to the Maastricht art fair, my eyes wide open. Instead of rich Dutch and German art collectors, I study the farmers and young equestrian enthusiasts who for ten days, share their passion for animals with Parisians.
Everything you always wanted to know about Apes
Gilles Nicolas is a painter and a sculptor and he has a specific passion for very large animals. Elephants and dynosaures, have no secrets for him and he has therefore been a long time contributor to the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution of Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, in Paris. His three apes and chimpazees welcome us in the first room of … Read More