Tag: Paris
I’ve got a hunch…back
When Victor Hugo began writing his classic tale The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, his goal was to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of Gothic architecture.
There has always been a debate as to whether or not Quasimodo was based on a real person. An article published in 2010 references the memoirs of a 19th-century sculptor working at Notre Dame. The memoir mentions a stone carver employed in the cathedral’s construction who had a severe hunchback and kept to himself.
In the Disney version of events, Quasimodo is friends with the gargoyles of the Church and they talk to each other.
“To a gargoyle on the ramparts of Notre Dame as Esmeralda rides off with Gringoire Quasimodo says. “Why was I not made of stone like thee?”
More information can be found here…
Our Lady of Paris
With over 70 churches in the city of Paris, it can be overwhelming to take in them all. The one that absolutely cannot be missed is Notre Dame Cathedral.
Construction began on the towering edifice in 1136 and was mostly complete by 1260.
During the French Revolution, Notre-Dame suffered extensive damage and desecration. With many of its religious art damaged or destroyed, it wasn’t until Victor Hugo published his novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, that restoration efforts began.
In April of 2019, the roof of Notre-Dame caught fire and burned for 15 hours. The Cathedral will be restored to its former glory and is slated to re-open to the public in 2024.
For more information…
The Sounds of Paris
When you think of Paris, the music of an accordion can be frequently heard wafting through the streets.
Along the banks of the Seine or in the looming shadows of the Tour Eiffel, there is no mistaking it’s music.
Farewell Louvre
There is never enough time to fully explore the Louvre. Over 2.8 million visitors venture through it’s cavernous halls in a year. With over 380,000 objects, something is bound to be missed on your first visit.
A mere 20′ away from the Mona Lisa is this painting of “Flora”.
Paris Bordone was an Italian painter. His paintings of religious themes were created for some of the great churches of the 1500s.
Biagio d’Antonio’s painting of “The Carrying of The Cross” depicts Jesus on his way to Cavalry. In the lower right corner is a woman holding a piece of fabric with Jesus’s face on it. This is known as Veronica’s Veil. Although not mentioned in the Bible, the legend of a woman that wiped the blood and sweat off of Jesus’ face has been retold across the world. This is but one of many representations of the meeting.
In the Egyptian collection, a bronze statue of a cat is on display. This is the Goddess Bastet in her form as a feline. The Goddess certainly has her plate full. She was the Goddess of cats, the sun, the East, fire, love, intoxication, music, dancing, joy, celebration, fertility, secrets, magic, and sex, to name a few of her duties.
For more information check out these links…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veil_of_Veronica
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Bordone
The Facades of The Louvre
There are quite a few interesting details on the Facades of The Louvre
Travels With Ackbar 