Thursday, January 16, 2014

A wonderful Paris Sunday, January 5

From the Hotel Beaumarchais, a 15 minute walk to Pere Lachaise the 150 acre fabulous necropolis in Paris.

 You need a map, these cobbled avenues criss cross and encircle the cemetery. It's a place of silence and incredible beauty.


 Just streets and streets of the last address, some understated and many, many reflecting the healthy egotism of the inhabitant/s.





 Eiffel Tower in the far  distant west of the city.

 Magnificent trees here
 Gericault - just came across it, wandering past... he died so young from the  consequences of a horse riding accident. So tragic as his work was really interesting especially his studies of inmates of asylums. he was really interested in the human psyche. I want to learn more about this man rather than only look at the works.
 I love the elevated structure of the cemetery, an amazing sight these tombs and mausoleums (plural?) on the gentle rise.



 A very classical tomb for this Romantic artist.


 Avenues of tombs - position, position position...
I didn't go to the Morrison or Wilde grave, just meandered though I was happy to find Daumier and Balzac. Most family names completely unknown of course, forgotten but at some stage much loved and admired. The self aggrandisement of some of the monuments breathtaking and poignant at the same time - this place houses the wealthiest of the C19th bourgeoisie, I wonder where the common people are placed?

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