Who isn’t enchanted by the wonderful cursive organic Art Nouveau Metro Designs by French architect Hector Guimard? What would Paris be without “His Metro?” Monceau is a Park with a storied history….
A French Duke of Orleans bought the land of Parc Monceau in 1769 and asked Louis Carrogis, called Carmontelle, creator of “fetes” and spectacles, to create garden picturesque “scenes” of illusions of different eras and countries. This “picturesque” style became the vogue style in the era of French Rococo and Parc Monceau had “Collections” of a Dutch windmill, classical Roman ruins, Eqyptian oblilesks and pyramids, English garden styles, etc. A Round Greek Temple with a colonnade as seen above was added by French architect Nicolas Ledoux as an official “office” for the garden… Nice Office.
This is a circular Roman Colonnade was part of a Naumachia, referring back to to ancient Greek and Roman world where the emperors (Julius Caesar, being the first one) had festivals called Naumachias (greek for Naval Combat). It was part of the “stage set” surrounding a basin for “Naval Battles” as mass entertainment ….They were like Hollywood productions using 6000 prisoners of war and digging basins or using the Tiber, with real combat and death, all to create an entertainment spectacle.(Wikipedia fills in some facts!) Unbelievable.
One would never guess the historic meaning of this lovely colonnade….
A “Folly” bien sur!
A “Miniature Folly” is in this Petit Pont and River inviting a petite promenade….
My watercolor of it is buried in a suitcase…. The royal property was taken by the French government after the French Revolution, and finally refashioned by Alphand (public works creator) under grand designs of Haussmann and Napolean III to recreate Paris’ urban plan with a plentiful park system. The Bridge and river, Grotto and cascade, the Naumachia colonnade, Roman Arch, and pyramid are some elements that have been preserved.
……giving us a trace of the Egyptian World.
The Monceau quarter is a very upscale neighborhood with wealthy families of that day, Pereire, Rothschild, Cernuschi, Ménier, Camondo members using the park and creating its reputation and allure. Monet painted the rich bourgeoisie promenading here! A park that is very popular today was a “garden cabinet of curiosities” in its original day. Marcel Proust played here as a child…. Did he have a premonition of “Remembrance of Things Past” here ?! Just imagining…..!
But more of Monet a little later…. when he’s not busy painting at Parc Monceau…
The contemporary “Folly” of Merry-Go-Rounds is everywhere in Paris’ Parks
as is an adult essential: Wifi!
I couldn’t resist a “Go” at a Merry-go-Round! And the Chestnut Trees!
The Chestnuts are beautiful trees to paint and their blooms are fantastic in late April/early May.
And now leaving the Follies for the Romance of the 19th century world of Ary Sheffer’s Montmartre home and garden and the legendary visitors of the Romantic Period and Style in Literature, Music and Art, Chopin, George Sand, Delcacroix and friends….
A long tree canopied path leads to to home and garden, now a museum, and hidden in the heart of Montmartre.
the courtyard…. Horse and Carriages imagined here in the 1840s with Chopin and George Sand arriving…
The entrance to the museum with tourists taking a break….
The entrance to the garden….
with it’s lovely leisurely ambience…
and light and congeniality…. Too inviting not to paint….
In fact I had time to paint 2 sketches…..The warm light was joyous….
The garden is waiting for you to have a seat!
And the romance and spirit of the Romantics—of people enjoying themselves
continues to today! The garden is delight!
An now for Giverny! Monet’s Paradise and Garden Lover Mecca!
Did you know that the artists going to Giverny can get an Artist Pass to paint in the gardens from 5:30 pm to 8 pm on weekday evenings!? More to come as I am lingering at the Musée and Jardin de la Vie Romantigue too long and need to go the Giverny another day! With all this Garden “Galloping,” one needs to take a break at beautiful garden cafes! Un café élongé, si vous plait! ….Perfect! …L’Aprés-midi Parfait!! ….. Giverny, La prochaine!
Hi Lois,
I love this “story” post. What a great way to incorporate history and travel. These are like little travelogues