Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Heads up

photo Denis Gliksman, Inrap
The tomb of a Celtic prince dating from the 5th century BC was recently discovered in the Champagne region of France.
I haven't made any such monumental discoveries but
do seem to keep coming across interesting faces these days.

photo: Le style et la matière
Foire de Chatou

quot capita, tot sensus

"So many heads, so many opinions," said Terrence.

photo: Le style et la matière
Foire de Chatou
And Youtube says that cats will change your outlook. 
I hear that in the US, Uber  delivers kittens like call-girls or clowns to offices 
for entertainment between 12 and 4pm. Am I the only one to find that unpleasantly odd?
Cats at your service?

photo: Le style et la matière
Musée de Cluny
 A regretful monster squelched under the unrelentingly firm hold of
St Margaret's foot in a painted panel of the saint from the 13th century.

photo: Le style et la matière
Musée de Cluny
Carvings of the kings of Judah were from the facade of Notre Dame de Paris c.1220.
These statuary heads served as foundation filler for post-revolutionary construction. 

photo: Le style et la matière
Musée de Cluny
Sable from the Middle Ages;
its handsome coat aside, the marten has an expressive face.

photo: Le style et la matière
Musée de Cluny
Rock crystal lions

photo: Le style et la matière
Musée de Cluny
A child's moony face carved in
chalcedony from 2nd century Rome.

photo: Le style et la matière
Musée de Cluny
Reliquary busts

photo: Le style et la matière
The holy family c.1500 Alsace
Musée de Cluny
Tu m'as fait tourner la tête....
Gentle, dear!

And as silly as it might be, all this relative roundness has me humming
"Mon manège à moi"


7 comments:

  1. Gesbi, that was fascinating. I never got to go to the Cluny. Wish I could have visited. I have heard of the new find, but know nothing about it yet.

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    Replies
    1. There is so much to see and do that it makes your head spin! Cluny is a wonderful place for the middle ages and sits on Roman baths. You may have seen them walking by in the Latin quarter. As for the Celtic tomb it is a very exceptional discovery because of its age and size -as big as a cathedral. Apparently, it also proves the Celts appreciated wine, too, which was not known. If I may quote, "it gives one a feeling of solidarity, almost of continuity with the past, that sort of thing."

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  2. Darling Gesbi....how I do love your blog!!!!

    Fascinating posts.....loved the read and images. And I never got to the Cluny either!!! I don't know why? Maybe after 9 months in Paris and beyond I was a bit over all the musées! Anyway, that can be saved for next time.

    Lots going on in Brisbane, Australia too.....David Lynch exhibition, his Musical Muse Chrysta Bell fantastique, French Film Festival, Chanel and Marni fabrics on sale which I needed to indulge in....if you have the time, please come and visit my little blog!

    Ciao


    Robyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Robyn. One can't live by museums alone, n'est pas?
      I will certainly pop over to see your goings on in Brisbane. I love seeing different parts of the world through fellow blogger's eyes...

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  3. Well, I too have yet to visit the Cluny, obviously an error on my part. I shall correct this on my next visit to Paris, thank you.

    Such a vast array of interesting head shots, enough to make my head dizzy it seems. The little sable is very sweet and reminds me of three pet ferrets I once had long ago.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Lady Domus. The middle ages are anything but austere and the hôtel de Cluny is flamboyant gothic, a precious case for the jewels inside. I'm so glad you told me of your former pets. I will now picture you as a modern version of Leonardo's Lady with an Ermine (Ferret, we'll say) one of my favorite paintings. You won't even need to change your Chronica Domus image.

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  4. ok, i'll admit it! i was dizzy by the end of that video! coucou - missed this post earlier. love that (2nd pic, first) shot from the chatou marche lovely contrasts of textures and smoothnesses. happy spring!

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