Paris: Day 3 Opera and Picasso Museum

Students sketching in the opera

2. Picasso Museum

Paris... First full day

Our day started with crossiants, fresh fruit, yogurts, and lattes. After eating we headed on the Metro to the Louvre. After spending several hours there, many remarked it to be incredible. This keyboard will not allow for quotation marks or I would add their personal statements. After the Louvre we walked by the river and met Mike outside the Notre Dame. We toured inside while a mass was happening.... really beautiful moment when choir was signing; Now off to a four course dinner in Bercy Village.

 

 

We arrived in Paris

All are safe and happy!

Other Paris Museums we will visit: The Pomidou and Picasso Museum

Pompidou Museum
https://www.centrepompidou.fr/

Highlights: 

The Pompidou Centre has amazed and delighted visitors ever since it opened in 1977, not just for its outstanding collection of modern art – the largest in Europe – but also for its radical architectural statement. The dynamic and vibrant arts centre delights with its irresistible cocktail of galleries and cutting-edge exhibitions, hands-on workshops, dance performances, cinemas and other entertainment venues. The exterior, with its street performers and fanciful fountains (place Igor Stravinsky), is a fun place to linger.

Former French President Georges Pompidou wanted an ultracontemporary artistic hub, and he got it: competition-winning architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers effectively designed the building inside out, with utilitarian features such as plumbing, pipes, air vents and electrical cables forming part of the external façade, freeing up the interior space for exhibitions and events. Paris’ premier cultural centre has amazed visitors since it was inaugurated in 1977.

The Musée National d’Art Moderne, France’s national collection of art dating from 1905 onward, is the main draw and is housed on the 4th and 5th floors. A fraction of the 100,000 pieces – including the work of fauvists, cubists, and surrealists as well as pop art and contemporary works – is on display.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/paris/sights/museums-galleries/centre-pompidou#ixzz3TY97R3k3

Picasso Museum
http://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/

Highlights:

• Museum includes works done by Picasso and purchased by Picass0
• Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/paris/sights/museums-galleries/musee-picasso#ixzz3TYBskhES

Top 10 suggestions for The Louvre (Paris)

Once you are inside, here are my suggestions for ten things to see that will make you thirsty for more. Taken from http://www.vagobond.com/10-things-to-see-in-the-louvre-cultural-travel/. Modified by Ms. Bertarelli.

1) Of course you want to see the Mona Lisa, despite the crowds and the poor presentation. To see the Mona Lisa, head straight for the 13th-15th century Italian paintings section (on the first floor).There will be a crowd of people elbowing their way close to the painting. Good luck getting a picture without someone’s head in it.

2) Nike of Samothrace aka Winged Victory. Almost 2000 years old, massive and beautiful. Take some time to contemplate here, it’s worth it.

3) Venus de Milo – I mean you have to see her, but really, she’s not all that hot. A big armless woman not wearing a top.Here’s a funny fact, the statue used to be on the seal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Fill in your own punchline.

4) Islamic Art Collections – spanning thirteen centuries and three continents, this collection is astounding. Islamic art holds a special place in my soul, and if you take a bit of time here, I think you will see why.

5) 17th and 19th Century Dutch Artists. You know what’s great about this section – you will probably be alone and frankly, the art is just as mind blowingly wonderful. Not nearly as many religious themes and plenty of drunk, stoned happy looking people (in the pictures I mean).

6) The Raft of Medusa. This 1818–1819 by the French Romantic painter and lithographer Théodore Géricault is simply astounding. Rather than a classic Greek theme as you might expect, this is the aftermath of the shipwreck of the French Vessel Meduse’ where 146 people struggled to survive on a raft. Only 15 were rescued, the others were eaten, committed suicide, were killed or died of the elements. The painting depicts the moment when rescue appears imminent. The history of this painting alone is worthy in terms of art history and historical events.

7) Madonna on the Rocks by Leonardo danVinci. The Virgin Mary, Jesus and John the Baptist. Not so much the religious icons, but this painting gives you the chance to see da Vinci’s mastery much closer than you can with the Mona Lisa.

8) The Coronation of Napolean by Jacques-Louis David is ten meters by six meters. Massive and beautiful. Painted in 1807 and depicting the coronation at Notre Dame. This is a painting that will also enhance your visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame and Napolean III’s Apartments.

9) Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss. This masterpiece, Antonio Canova’s statue Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, first commissioned in 1787 to me is the ultimate in classical sculpture. Riveting. 

10) Akhenaten, the rebel pharoah’s statue – his name and images were systematically destroyed by later Pharaohs. This statue piece is over 3,300 years old. The Sphinx at Louvre is another great piece – again over 4,000 years old. Check out thehistory of Akhenaten – awesome dude.

Final reminders for our trip!

• Tell all your teachers that you will be gone on the Thursday and Friday before spring break... Also you will need to miss 7th period or part of it on Wednesday. You need to be at the airport by 2:45 pm waiting at the ticket counter for Iceland Air
• Find good walking shoes and a good raincoat
• Do your cardio to be prepared for all the walking we're doing
• Pack lightly and well (less is more- remember dark pants go a long way)
• Secure your art supplies required- see list