José Maria Sert in forty projects

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“Les Indes venant au secours des alliés” esquisse, for the decor of  Sir Philip Sassoon’s salon in Port Lympne en 1915, destroyed.

 I was on my way to the première of « Trompe la Mort », a contemporary opera by Luca Francesconi with a fascinating direction by Guy Cassiers, when I casually walked into the Galerie Emeric Hahn, rue Saint Anne, on the invitation of Philippe Godoy, better known in Paris as « the Prince » of the 2nd arrondissement. This dear and faithful friend had alerted me on a discreet show of Catalan painter José Maria Sert, well known for his fabulous décors for the Rothschilds, the Wendels and Coco Chanel in the 1920’s and celebrated at Petit Palais five years ago.Read More

Gardens, classical and contemporary at Grand Palais

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Jean Michel Othoniel’s “Grotta Azzurra”, 2017, Courtesy Galerie Perrotin, Photos : Othoniel Studio

I was surprised to find out that Laurent Le Bon, president of the Picasso museum and formerly at Pompidou Metz, was the curator of the much awaited show of « Jardins » at Grand Palais. I had noticed his wit at the opening of the Picasso exhibition in CDG airport a month ago and he was just as much fun while pointing out the vegetal wall by Patrick Blanc running along the staircase.  The show starts with a Pompei frescoe of a garden facing « Verde del bosco  con camicia » by Giuseppe Penone. No need to tell us anything, we know we will be surprised by centuries of gardens ! Over one hundred pieces of the show have never been shown in France.Read More

Gloves and hats at a bargain

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Muriel is liquidating its stock until March 30 th

Muriel, a 19 th century glove shop around the corner from the Elysée Palace, is closing down for good on March 30 th. It’s not exactly the season to buy woolen or calf gloves but think of your Christmas presents! I found a fabulous straw hat for 20€ in view of all the weddings that I will attend this summer and gloves you can use on your iPhone.

Woolen gloves you can use on your iPhone

At a time when it is essential to wear gloves everywhere on the subway and in public spaces, the glove industry is slowly dying. And for anyone interested the old shop furniture is also for sale!

Don’t hesitate, just go…to 4 rue des Saussaies…

Gants Muriel, sad to see you go

 

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Mystical countrysides at Orsay

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Maurice Denis, Paysage aux arbres verts, 1893, Paris Musée d’Orsay, photo Hervé Lewandowski

The new exhibition at Musée d’Orsay, « Beyond the stars, the mystical landscape from Monet to Kandinsky », is an ode to trees and endless landscapes, a tribute to Baudelaire’s poem « Correspondances » one of the pillars of symbolism. I was surprised to find Monet’s four cathedrals in the first room facing his haystacks… But there are many discoveries to be made in this dream show conceived with the Art Gallery of Ontario.Read More

Anselm Kiefer and Auguste Rodin observe cathedrals

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Anselm Kiefer, Auguste Rodin: les cathédrales de France, 2016, photo Georges Ponce

« I bequeath to the state all my works in plaster, marble, bronze and stone together with my drawings and the collection of antiquities I had such pleasure in assembling, for the education and training of artists and workers. » This sentence in Auguste Rodin’s will led Catherine Chevillot, director of Musée Rodin, to invite Anselm Kiefer in the storerooms of the museum five years ago. The exhibition opening today is the result of extensive research and painting by the maverick artist.Read More

Champagne at Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment

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Coco Chanel’s apartement is lined with Coromandel screens and filled with very surprising objects

When she died on January 10, 1971, Mademoiselle Chanel left an apartment on the second floor of the House of Chanel, 31 rue Cambon. Its singularity was that it only had a dining room, a living room and an office but no bedroom… She used to sleep across the street at the Ritz. The apartment has been kept intact with its dark Coromandel screens lining the walls and an eccentric mix of objects which still inspire Chanel today.Read More

Maastricht’s magic operates again

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Ivory Okimono of a half peeled banana, Japan, Meiji (1868-1912) at Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London

The intense excitement started at 8 am at Gare du Nord. The whole quay was filled with dealers, collectors and journalists who were all anticipating walking into the 30 the Maastricht art fair with the happy few who are invited to the preview at 11 am exactly. After having travelled by train to Liège and taxied to Maastricht, in the Netherlands, the three hour trip through three countries gave us the privilege of discovering the greatest treasures in antiques, old furniture and old and contemporary paintings, jewellery, Chinese art, etc…270 exhibitors chosen with great care by the TEFAF organizers.  And the emotion was even more intense than expected.Read More

Balenciaga meets up with Bourdelle

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Coat, Silk façonnée matelassée, 1962. Galliera, musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

 

Musée Bourdelle is a very special little museum hidden away behind Gare Montparnasse and the monumental sculptures it shows could be a little daunting if some lighter beauties did not come to keep them company. After a magistral Madame Grès show four years ago, Cristobal Balenciaga (1895-1972) is the new guest. «L’œuvre au noir », a collection of 110 black dresses by the Spanish couturier is again a great success !

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