Colette

If I can't have too many truffles, I'll do without truffles.
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

Bonjour mes amis, what a chaotic and busy time it has been. I love to grab a great book and a cup of tea to unwid a bit in the evenings when the baby is asleep and the husband has gone to bed. Lately, I have found myself immersed in novels by that racy and saucy author Colette (Best known for writing Gigi).

I just finished reading a number of the Claudine books,  I'm starting Chéri when I finish this post, and I can't wait to get my hands on La Naissance du Jour. I find myself getting lost in this Belle Epoque world she writes about so vividly and so wonderfully! It makes me even more excited to know that she wrote about personal experiences and the people around her so these amazing, larger than life characters could have at one point been living, breathing, people.

Her life was very racy and very interesting. Her marriages and lovers were often scandalous and salacious. A woman before her time and a wonderful writer.   

You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

Exquisite Finery

Blue Silk Ballgown and Red SIlk womens stockings, with Gold thread embroidery

Bonjour Mes Amis! Recently I wrote a post (here) about visiting the new Resnick Pavilion in Los Angeles for the opening weekend. I was in awe of all of the beauty and history surrounding me. It was a spectacular experience and I am so excited to share these pics with you. 

Edwardian Lace dress and kidskin gloves/A stunning uncut pattern on Silk

The first of the three exhibits that we visited was this amazing journey through time, "Fashioning Fashion" European dress through the ages. I cannot tell you just how incredible these items were in person.  

L. Blue Mademoiselles Giroux Dress c. 1880 made in LImoges France  made in the Princess Line, named after Princess Alexandria of Whales.

This stunning display exhibits European Dress from 1700~1915. All of the very most romantic eras are represented here and one could get lost in the glamour and the romance of it all.

I apologize for the hefty amout of photos in this post, I had a really hard time editing some out. I have loads more but decided to spare you! My best friend had my camera so I took these with my phone but you just can't hide the fact that the fashion was divine!

Fashion from some of the most famous and luxurious fashion houses and designers in history are on display: The House of Rouff, Émile Pingat, Giroux, and so many more. The above Pink gown is from the 1830's and is decorated with a sea of faux pearls that  would weigh down the sheer overlay and make a delightful clinking noise when the lucky wearer would move. The faux pearls are glass filled with a mixture of fish scales and glue. The story behind this is remarkable, I could do an entire post over the discovery of this process by a French rosary maker.

I wish I could write about each of these pieces, however, I think I would both bore you and take hours to write. Each piece has a truly remarkable history and the process of creating these works of art are incredible.

The contents of these Silk~Velvet lined boxes are amazing! The larger box contains jeweled buttons for a mens suit from the 1700's, the missing ones are on display on the suit next to this box. The smaller boxes contain jeweled shoe buckles! If I could only just hold one for a moment! Too beautiful!!!

I have been holding back writing that "this photo is my favorite"because it feels like they all are but I really do think this one is my favorite. Those bustles are fantastic and the colors! Oh my!

18th century Robe à la Française. Cream Silk with Handpainted details. The colorful florals are woven in to the fabric but the Green/Yellow leaves and bows are handpainted. Just amazing!

The thing that struck me most about everysingle piece I saw was the detail, the hadmade aspect of everything, the fact that every pleat, bead, ruffle, and delicious piece of golden passementerie, has been perfectly placed is mind blowing. Seeing gowns and suits worn at the most luxurious courts in Europe was a special and treasured treat. The true luxury of the textiles, lush trimmings, and artistry of each piece is intoxicating.

All of these pieces and so much more (a vest from the Revolution in France, children's clothing, capes lined in ostrich feathers, etc) are currently on display at LACMA in Los Angeles until March.

All Photos ~ Paris Atelier

A Most Romantic Discovery

Getty Images

Can you just imagine turning the key in the keyhole of a beautiful old building in Paris to enter an apartment that for over 70 years lay untouched. With the rent faithfully paid, the doors locked, and an incredible treasure trove hiding inside, this apartment remained a secret. That is, until the apartments last occupant recently passed away at the age of 91. She shut the apartment up just before the outbreak of World War II to go live in the south of France and she never returned. The dust filled romantic rooms of treasure were discovered by  an auctioneer sent to inventory her belongings.


That is only part of the romantic story of the apartment of the granddaughter of Marthe de Florian, a beautiful actress of the early screen. When this lucky auctioneer entered the dust-covered Parisian apartment to take inventory of the possessions, he was quoted saying that he "had the impression of creeping into Sleeping Beauty’s castle where time had stood still". In the beautiful decaying apartment he came across a painting, which had hung in the living room, of an actress of exceptional beauty who went by the name of Marthe de Florian, enshrouded in a pale pink mousseline evening dress. The real story here is that this portrait was painted by one of 19-century Paris’ most prized portrait artists, Italian Giovanni Boldini.

Image via Yahoo news

The auctioneer had a hunch that this painting was made by the famous Boldini but could not find any record of the painting, it was not in any reference books and it had never been exhibited. After extensive research he found  one of Boldini’s calling cards in the apartment with a love message by the painter written to de Florian. Knowing this was the link, he continued his search and found proof that this painting was indeed a Boldini after finding mention of it in a book belonging to the painters widow.

Amazing Stuffed Ostrich via Telegraph.co.uk

Marthe de Florian had hosted her many admirers in the apartment where “she kept letters from her lovers in little packages wrapped up with ribbons of different colors,” according to one of the people who worked on the inventory. The calling cards of senior statesmen from the period were found tucked away in drawers.

This week, the painting, painted in 1898 when de Florian was 24 years old, went up for auction in Paris. Ten bidders fought to own the piece, the final price came to an astonishing €2.1 million, the highest price of any Boldini piece. "It was a magic moment. One could see that the buyer loved the painting; he paid the price of passion,” art specialist Marc Ottavi was quoted by The Telegraph

Bonjour Friends,

Whew! What an incredibly busy (but great) week, it is so good to get back to the blogging world. I have been just aching for Paris lately (what's new, right)! I always get a pang to go when I read your beautiful blogs, see gorgeous photos, and look at fine art.

During a conversation with my husband over dinner tonight, I thought a lot about the painter Jean Beraud and his subtle and elegant paintings. Here is a little bit about him and some of his work. Enjoy!

La Soiree

Born in St Petersburg in 1849, the son of a French Sculptor, Béraud moved to Paris to complete his law studies at the Lycée Bonaparte. Béraud exhibited his paintings at the Salon for the first time in 1872. However, he did not gain much recognition until 1876.

Béraud's work was greeted with great enthusiasm and he was welcomed into Parisian society receiving many commissions for portraits from famous figures such as the Prince d'Orleans and Prince Troubetskoy. He attended many of the evening soirees arranged by the popular hostesses of the time and frequently depicted these scenes in his paintings.

He frequented the same cafés, restaurants and theatres as Dégas, Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec and was close friends with Manet.

La Modiste Sur La Champs Elysees

He exhibited with the Society of French Watercolorists at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. He painted many scenes of Parisian daily life during the Belle Époque in a style that stands in between the academic art of the Salon and that of the Impressionists.

He received the Légion d'honneur in 1894.

Béraud's paintings often included truth-based humour and mockery of late 19th century Parisian life.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Béraud dedicated less time to his own painting but worked on numerous exhibition committees, including the Salon de la Société Nationale.

Béraud never married and had no children. He is buried in Montparnasse Cemetery beside his mother.

La Bal Mabile

The work of Jean Béraud is represented in museums in Liège, Lille, Tours and Troyes, France.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

XOXO

Judith~

Welcome Home...

Keys from the Bastille

I love, love, love the Marais, it is one of my favorite places to roam about. A great place there is the Musee Carnavalet. I always enjoy seeing the diverse items they have on display there and always great exhibitions. Here are some highlights. With all of the amazing museums packed into the city it's easy to overlook this one. Of course you go to the Louvre, the D'Orsay, etc. but this is a very nice way to spend the afternoon as well.

The Carnavalet Museum, is dedicated to the history of Paris, it is located near the Place de Vosges. The museum is built around two adjoining mansions: the sixteenth-century hôtel Carnavalet and the seventeenth-century hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau. It contains over one-hundred rooms.

Pieces of old Paris walls ~ I love this


By Mucha

The Hôtel Carnavalet, after which the museum is named, was once the home of Madame de Sévigné, who wrote a series of famous letters to her daughter. It now hosts the museum’s collections from pre-historical times to the reign of Louis XVI, while the Hôtel Le Peletier Saint-Fargeau contains pieces dating from the French Revolution to the present day.

Re~creation of a Paris Ballroom

Could you just imagine all of us dressing up in our ball gowns, opera length gloves, diamonds and pearls, top hats, and tails! Oh to dream!

Some particularly interesting exhibits are:
Madame de Sévigné's Gallery;
The 20th century, Ballroom of the Hôtel de Wendel;
The Charles Le Brun Ceiling;
The Hotel d'Uzès Reception Room;
An ancient recipe for frog-leg soup, and;
Robespierre's final Letter

I just love this painting and this photo

Also there, a letter the little Dauphin was forced to write while being held captive (poor little thing), Marie Antoinette's shoes (which I posted in my last post). Also must sees are the salons and rooms of grand hotels that have long since disappeared. They are reproduced in every detail, the 19th century writer Marcel Proust's bedroom, a military tavern and a salon from the famous Cafe de Paris.

The museum is just as beautiful outside as it is inside

The famous painting of the doomed Queen Marie-Antoinette by A. Kucharski is also there, as are toys her children played with while in prison, as is some of the families furniture from the Tuileries that they used while being held there. However, just to see the buildings and petite garden are enough to entice a visit from me! I just love seeing how people lived before and to be in that environment, in a historical home (and such a grand one), it's pure heaven to me.

Here's a fun link...Scholars Resource

Pics are from Flickr

Have a wonderful night my friends, until tomorrow!

~Judith~

So many Choices!

So, for today I couldn't decide between two choice pieces of real estate for us to visit. Both spectacular in their own right. I think the second one is very much my favorite! I don't think I have any complaints about either one!

This bedroom is fit for royalty! So very pretty!

Sumptuous corner piano niche on the Champ de Mars with incredible view of the Eiffel Tower. Exquisitely decorated by Jacques Garcia, this home features a grand reception room with exceptional vistas, a dining room, a kitchen, a bedroom with a bathroom, and a magnificent master suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom. Wonderful condition. Elegant and refined decoration. Air-conditioned

Look at the view from the window! This is all too much for me!

I know I'm a little bit crazy but a pretty bathroom for me could very well be the selling point to make up my mind! I love this!

That silk curtain hanging in the doorway is just stunning, I'm going to have to try to copy this look at my home.

Okay, here is our second option which I think is a bit more what I am looking for (oh, who am I kidding, I'll sleep in the metro station if it means I'm sleeping in Paris)!

Could you just imagine all of us meeting right here for our vacation! I think I'm beginning to be serious about this! I know times are hard right now but we can all look forward to better & brighter times!

I'm a sucker for those beautiful walls! Like a mini Versailles. Those windows! *Sigh*

Rue de Verneuil. In an exceptional building, this is a rare reception apartment in use as a private residence. The courtyard features a private entrance with a grand staircase to the piano area, a hall, a reception room, and a dining room with a four-meter ceiling height. Four bedrooms and a living room. On the ground floor, a huge dining kitchen, a pantry, and a fifth bedroom are found. All of these open to a private garden courtyard. Original fireplaces, parquet floors, and wood panelling

Those doors are spectacular! I don't love the carpet but we can make it work!

Sold! How pretty is this! I have issues, why is it that this image could make my day a little better!?! I'm in awe of the beauty.

Wowzers!

Bisou Mon Amis!

I think I just saw heaven!

I'm in love! Sotheby's has this remarkable Belle Epoque apartment up for sale in Paris! I'm going to go check my bank account to make an offer! Just kidding!

Bisou Mon Amis!