Paris 6

Pont Neuf

Built by beloved King Henri IV from 1578-1607, this bridge was christened "The New Bridge". As everything else got built or torn down, the name became more and more ironic; Pont Neuf was really the oldest bridge across the Seine. Now, it's been rebuilt and Pont Neuf is "neuf", again.

New, old, new again.

The Pantheon was caught up in a similiar cycle. Construction was started in 1744 by Louis XV as a church, then it was taken over during the revolution, then given back to the church by Napolean, then returned to the state.

Consacrated, deconsacrated, reconsacrated, unreconsacrated.Returned to the Louvre one last time to do a study of the building/stairwells. I find them fascinating; the guts of the building unchanged by the requirements for displaying art (except maybe the stairwell in the pyramid).

Atala au Tombeau - After a bit of a search, I found this painting in the big hall of french painters; we have a smaller copy in the High Museum that was commissioned of the artist by Josephine Napolean (or so I'm told).

Leonidas aux Thermopyles - Who doesn't love Jacques-Louis David? After seeing the graphic novel-based movie "300", it was nice to see the 1813 version of the same story. Another of David's paintings, "Radeau de Medusa", shows several men stranded in stormy seas on a sinking raft, many of whom are downright nekkid! Mom was right; in case you get caught unawares in an accident - always put on clean underwear!
FETE DE LA VIE - Just in case there wasn't enough "fete-ing" going on, a carnival has taken over the Tuileries. It's a fundraiser for an organ donor organization and it's all set up for just one night. Take a look at the poster and tell me if I was wrong to think it was part of Gay Pride (the parade is tomorrow). linkMy Pariscope, marked-up up for Fete du CinemaMe on...you guessed it...Pont des Arts