I think it’s wonderful that a gilder i.e. someone whose occupation is to overlay objects with gold, silver and copper, still exists in Blois today. Délia Louis, who opened her workshop on Rue Beauvoir over ten years ago, has both private and institutional clients. Her main work involves frames for paintings and mirrors.. Je trouve merveilleux …
Author Archives: avril
Art Nouveau Windows – Fenêtre art nouveau ?
These two windows are astonishly on the first place of the bishop’s house I mentioned a couple of days ago. They look like art nouveau but there appear to be crosses in the upper panes. Ces deux fenêtres se trouvent, de façon inattendue, au premier étage de l’évêché dont j’ai parlé il y a deux ou …
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Joan of Arc Again – Jeanne d'Arc encore
I know that I posted a photo of this statue of Joan of Arc by American sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntingdon in December but we went back to the bishop’s garden in Blois so I could take a better photo. Remember it’s the sculpture that was too good to be the work of a woman!!!! Je sais …
Triangles & Spires – Triangles et flèches
I love the way the triangles on the steps form a oounterpoint to the spires of Saint Nicolas on the other side of the Loire. J’aime bien la façon dont les triangles sur les marches font contrepoint aux flèches de l’église Saint Nicolas de l’autre côté de la Loire..
The Bishop's Door – La porte de l'évêché
The original bishop’s house in Blois is now the Town Hall (1698 to 1704), a much grander building. The separation of church and State in 1905 forced the bishop to find a new home. A parishioner, Germaine Marcandier donated her house just a stone’s throw away, at n° 2 rue Porte Clos Haut. Although it was probably …
CDP Theme Day – Photo of the Year 2015 – Photo de l'année 2016
The City Daily Photo theme day this month is the photo of the year for 2015. First, I checked out my nine most “liked” photos on Instagram, then asked the readers of my other blog, Aussie in France, to choice their favourite. I took this photo of Château de Sully, on the Loire, last April, on a …
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Early Japonica – Cognassier du Japon précoce
This Japonica is surprisingly early. Last year I posted a photo on 26th March! We have still only had one short bout of frost and that was way back in November. Ce cognassier du Japon est extrêmement précoce. L’année dernière j’ai posté une photo le 26 mars ! Nous n’avons eu qu’une petite gelée et …
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A Very Strange Window – Une fenêtre très étrange
I have never seen a window like the one in the middle of this photo, that is, a mullion window (with a cross-piece) above a door. From the surrounding stone, it looks like it is an original feature. Taken in Vienne in Blois. Je n’ai jamais vu une fenêtre comme celle qui se trouve au milieu de cette …
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Ex Voto in Vienne
On the corner of rue Poinçon-Renversé and rue Munier in Vienne (the neighbourood in Blois across the river from the Château), this colourful ex voto was erected on 15th August 1849 in recognition of the inhabitants saved from a cholera epidemic. A l’angle des rues Poinçon-Renversé et Munier à Vienne (le quartier de Blois en …
Last Rays of Sun on Chambord – Derniers rayons de soleil sur Chambord
Boxing Day at Chambord. Le jour après noël à Chambord.