This impressive mask is a plastic cast of a sculpture on the ceiling of the classical Gaston d’Orléans wing of Blois castle, built in 1635-1638. It’s part of an itinerary for the blind. Can you spot it on the ceiling below? Ce masque imposant est un moulage d’un masque sculpté sur le plafond de l‘aile classique Gaston d’Orléans du château …
Category Archives: Art
Opposing Jack – Faisant face à Jack
The angel on the opposite Jack in yesterday’s photo is Martine Tissier de Mallerais, who became curator of Blois Castle in 1967 at the age of 27, a post at which she excelled up until1991 when she succumbed to Jack Lang’s determination to change the main cultural officers after his election in 1989. Finding themselves opposite each …
Jack the Angel – L'angelot Jack
You may know that sculptors of public and religious buildings often used local dignitaries as models for faces, sometimes rather humoristically. Anyone familiar with Blois will recognise Jack Lang in the above cul-de-lampe on the Louis XII façade of Blois castle. The rest of the body, however, has not been changed. Jack Lang was minister of culture from …
The Gilder – La Doreuse de Blois
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 …
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 …
Joan of Arc in Blois – Jeanne d'arc à Blois
Yesterday, I mentioned the statue of Joan of Arc in Blois by American sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntingdon. I remembered having taken a photo two years ago (in better weather – it was August) in the bishop’s garden next to the town hall. It was very sunny so you can’t see her clearly but I know I …
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Diane in Blois
We found a new park in Blois on Sunday. I can’t wait to go back when the sun’s out. In the meantime, here is Diane of the Chase by Anna Hyatt Huntingdon. An article in our local paper, La Nouvelle République tells the story of how the Salon de Paris exhibition in 1910 refused to give first prize …
The Watchful Dog – Le chien de garde
I don’t know if there is a story to this dog standing watch over a little pavillion at Château de Villandry … Je ne sais pas s’il y a une histoire derrière ce chien qui monte la garde sur un petit pavillon au château de Villandry …
Luminous Trees – Arbres lumineux
These unusual lampposts stand in front of Graslin Theatre on Place Graslin in Nantes. The 8 metre high, 2.50 m candelabra were installed in 2013 and comprise 31 light sources. They draw their inspiration from theatre chandeliers. Ces lampadaires originaux se trouvent Place Graslin à Nantes devant le théâtre Graslin. Les dessins des candélabres, hauts de 8 …
Financier aux Poires
Half the pleasure of desserts in France is in the presentation. A financier is a traditional cake in France made with powdered almonds first made in the 17th century by an order of nuns called the Visitandines in Nancy in Lorraire. The oval-shaped cakes, called “Visitandines”, were made either to make up for the prohbition of meat …