Musée d'Orsay - No Photography?

You have traveled thousands of miles to see paintings you have long admired in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay. You remember them from your art history classes. You have your camera, an extra memory card and back up battery.

There you are in front of that Degas sculpture, Monet, Renoir, or Van Gogh painting you absolutely love...wait, what did the museum guard say, "No photographs please"???

Degas Sculptures in Musee d'Orsay
taken before the ban on photography
Photo © 2010 Karen F. Rose

Thatched Cottages at Cordeville, 1890Vincent VanGogh
oil on canvas
Musée d'Orsay
photo © 2010 Karen F. Rose

The Musée d'Orsay now has a no photography policy throughout the museum.

While I can understand no flash photography, which is annoying and over time could be damaging to works of art, and no photography of works that do not belong to the museum, but for artists and who want to study a painting or sculpture in closer detail...what a hugh disappointment...no photographs...not even with your smart phone.

Art Info has an article about shutterbugs going to the Musee d'Orsay once a month to protest. Take a look at that article click HERE

Should museums limit non flash photographs. A Euro for your thoughts!

Want to Be a Copyist in the Louvre?

Sketching in the Louvre
Photo © 2010 Karen F. Rose

Copyist in the Louvre
photo © 2010 Karen F. Rose

Copyist in the Louvre

photo © 2010 Karen F. Rose

Mary Cassatt visited the Louvre in Paris, the most famous art museum in the world,  to study and copy the masters. Renoir, Henri Matisse, Degas and countless other artists were copyists at the Louvre. Examining the brushwork, composition, color and lost and found edges of paintings by master painters is part of the copyist tradition.  

In the Louvre, you are allowed to bring your own small sketchbook and draw to your hearts content. 

If you wish to paint one the masterpieces, you must apply for a copyist permit. The Louvre will supply the easel, and your seat. You supply the canvas, oil paint, determination, talent and concentration.
Just think of the concentration required. If you've ever painted in front a small group of people, imagine painting in front of several thousand museum visitors.
There are a few stipulations about your painting, your canvas cannot be the same size as the original work of art and you are not allowed to copy the original artist's signature.

Is there a copyist program at an art museum near you?
If you could, what artist's work of art would you try to copy?

French, Female and a Portrait Painter

Self portrait of Louse Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun and her daughter
(detail)
Louvre Museum
Photo Karen F. Rose

In my last post, I showed the portrait of Marie Antoinette and asked who painted it and where is it hanging now?
The French female artist who painted that portrait of Marie Antoinette was
Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun (1755- 1842) perhaps the most famous female painter of the 18th century.
Above she is pictured in this charming self portrait with her daughter that hangs in the Louvre.
Being a painter is tough, being a woman who paints portraits is even tougher and being a woman painter during the age of the French revolution and having been a portraitist to the queen of France ...well enough said.
You might want to read more about this amazing woman posted on the website of Kings College  HERE   
In answer to my "Paris and Beyond Art Adventure" questions
Marie Antoinette's picture now hangs in the Petit Trianon at Versailles.
The architect of the Louvre's pyramid was I.M. Pei
and the Musee d' Orsay was converted from a train station into an art museum.

In the next few weeks I will post art, food and history related questions about Paris and Provence. And, we will do a little sightseeing.
Hope you will join me by subscribing to my blog...just click on one of the subscribe buttons on the right.
Please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you.
If you had your portrait painted, what location would you choose? Would you choose to be formal or select casual clothing. What would best reflect your personality?

Follow Me on a Paris and Beyond Art Adventure

I'm excited to begin a Paris and Beyond art adventure and hope you will join me by subscribing to my blog. In the next couple weeks, I will post art, food, and history related questions about Paris and Provence. And we will do a little 
sightseeing.

Who painted this portrait of Marie Antoinette and where is it hanging now?

Who designed the Louvre Pyramid?

The building housing the Musee d"Orsay was what before it was an art museum?

If you subscribe to my blog, make a comment on these Paris and Beyond Posts... ooooh la la ...you just might be the winner of a gift from France. 

How do you subscribe? Just click on the blue "join this site button" or the "follow this blog" button on the right hand side of the blog.
Have your passport?  
Got your bags packed? 
Ok lets go on an adventure. 
Check the next post for answers to the Paris and Beyond Art Adventure questions.

The Mob Art Exhibit, Thornebrook Gallery

Tonight is the opening of The Mob art exhibit at Thornebrook Gallery in Gainesville, FL. David Arrighi, the gallery's owner is having a 30 year anniversary celebration.
I am delighted to have one of my original oil paintings
Twilight Companions featured in this exhibit. Thirty artists will have just one of their artworks on display for just five days.
So hurry in and see this show before it's gone. Closing reception is Wednesday, Sept. 14th from 5 to 8 PM with music by the talented singer Cathy De Witt.

Also just one more day for the Putnam Land Conservancy Art exhibit at Bellamy Art Gallery in Melrose. There is a special reception Sept 9th in the evening from 6 to 9 PM.
A portion of the proceeds for the sale of all works is donated to this worthy cause.
I have four paintings on display there.

As many of you have heard Carol Marine and her family along with hundreds of other families have lost their home to the devastating fires in Bastrup, TX. Our hearts go out to all of these families. If you would like to know how you can help the Marine family family please click here.

Seeking Calm

Seeking Calm
© 2011 Karen F. Rose
6x6"
available

Find the calm within yourself. Share it. Whether soothing words or acts of kindness,

be the calm for those who need it.

A Hole In One - Making the Right Choices

Hole in One
7 iron 172 yards

If you play golf, or know someone who does, getting a hole in one is "a big deal". Some people play golf their whole lives and never make one.

It is for one shining golden moment... the perfect shot.

Over the weekend our son called to say he had made his first hole in one at a public course near his home. He was needless to say pretty excited.

To mark the occasion, I had some fun making a "folk art" painting for him today. Now you can interpret that as folk art as in Grandma Moses style or
just one from "the folks".

Anyway, I tried to capture two moments in one in the painting; the view of the flag 172 yards away on the green with the mountains in the background and the  moment of truth as he looked down into the cup to see the ball smiling back at him.
You who don't play golf may ask, does making a hole in one take skill or luck? There are usually course hazards to get into your head to intimidate you. The lay of the land can have bunkers filled with sand, a pond or a creek for your ball to swim in or rough around the green to catch your ball. YOU have to clear your mind and make some wise decisions.
Choose the right playing partner as they will attest to your honesty, choose the right club for the distance, aim correctly, swing just so, and with some luck and no spike marks on the green your ball will roll straight into the cup.

In golf or painting, as in so many activities in life, making the right choices at the right time makes all the difference. 
Have you ever had a hole in one? Wishing you good luck and hoping you have a "hole in one" kind of day making the right decisions, at the right time, for whatever life challenges fill your day.