raleighsheffield:
Orsay Museum
raleighsheffield:
The Musee d'Orsay was built as a train station and converted into a museum in 1986. It showcases artwork from 1848 to 1914. Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh are among the artists work displayed here. I found I enjoyed the Orsay more than the Louvre
raleighsheffield:
The conversion of train station to a museum results in a wonderful venue for important artwork
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View from the other end of the museum
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Almost two o'clock. Let's get started
raleighsheffield:
I liked the following selections so I am sharing
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L' Angelus(evening bells), 1859. Jean-Francois Millet depicts a couple ending their days work as the bells from the church are ringing. They are praying over a basket of potatoes but it is thought artist originally painted a coffin before he changed it
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One of my favorites. German painter Oswald Achenbach did this beautiful work, "Une fete a Genazzano" in 1865. Enlarge and look at the detail. This looks like a photograph
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Another favorite "Ploughing in the Nivernais" was painted in 1849 by Rosa Bonheur. The two teams of oxen are preparing the soil for fall aeration. At a time when there was much strife in French cities, this glorifies the peasant life and traditions
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Look at the clarity and detail of Leon Belly's "Pilgrims going to Mecca" which he painted in 1861. His two trips to Egypt inspired this work. Another photo-like painting. May be my favorite!
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Hey, here's a train! This is Claude Monet's "Train in the Countryside" painted in 1870. Peaceful except for the passing train.
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Is this the first selfie? Self portrait by Edgar Degas painted in 1865. He doesn't look too happy, say cheese!
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L'Absinthe was a socially controversial painting by Degas when it was first displayed in 1876. The green liquid is of course absinthe, a violent, harmful liquor which was later prohibited. Note the desolation of both the man and woman
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"Apples and Oranges" by Paul Cezanne is a nice colorful change from the previous Degas. It was painted in 1900.
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The "Dance at Le moulin de la Galette" is considered one of Renoir's most celebrated masterpieces. Painted in 1876 it depicts a typically Impressionist snapshot of real life. Here are working class Parisians dancing, drinking and eating on a Sunday.
raleighsheffield:
Paul Gauguin; La Belle Angele-1889. Gauguin admired an innkeeper in Brittany and she finally consented to be painted. When he showed it to Mmm Satre she thought it to be horrible. Degas bought it and the rest is history.
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Recognize the artist? It's Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. He painted, "The Church at Auvers" in 1890. The actual church is in Place de L'Eglise, Auvers-sir-Oise, 17 miles northwest of Paris
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Vincent van Gogh's selfie painted in September of 1889. It is thought to have been his last self-portrait
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"Tahitian Women on the Beach" painted by Paul Gauguin in 1891
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Enlarge this photo and notice that it was painted with small squares of color rather than traditional brush strokes. This style know as Pointillism was perfected by Paul Signac. This work, "The Demolisher" was painted between 1896 and 1899
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This is a plaster model of the sculpture "Eagle Hunters" done by Jules Coutan. The bronze is on the facade of the Natural History Museum in Paris. This model was completed in 1900. Look at the detail.
raleighsheffield:
The big clock on the wall says 4:15. I've moved pretty quickly but thoroughly enjoyed the 2 1/4 hours I've been in the Orsay. Now it's time for some liquid refreshment!