We decided to pay a visit to the Musée des Beaux Art.
I have to believe these are new pavers. The edges aren't dead straight, but look how they've been sliced, perfectly flat. When I saw them, I thought "Oh, they'll get worn down, over time," but now I'm thinking it's that they were made at least partially by machine, unlike the old ones.
Here're some older ones, for comparison.You can see that their tops are uneven. (as always, click on a pic to see a bigger version)
Another example of fancy don't-get-on-my-balcony thingies.
Le cathedral de St. André was on our way to the art museum.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was married here (at 15 years of age, three months after becoming Duchess of Aquitaine when her father died....) to the future Louis VII of France (son and junior co-ruler of Louis VI, her guardian!!!) (That wikipedia article is very interesting!).
I think this is my first closeup of a rose window, from the outside. Thinking about all the craftsmanship that went into this -- quarrying the stone (getting big pieces out, whole), carving the stone so beautifully and precisely, moving the stone, before and after carving, installing the stone in the building (wondering now if it was carved before or after installation), making the glass, designing the colors for the window, making the lead pieces that go between the glass pieces, cutting the glass and fitting it into the stone..........
All of that for just one part of this incredible construction!
It was a very bright day. I had thought that, if we were ever to see the colors on the stone inside, the 29th would be the day.
Given that we know a lot of sculpture from the past was painted, originally, I suppose it's not a surprise that the insides of cathedrals were painted, too.
I wonder if all of this stone (including the ceiling?) was painted, once upon a time......
These are really Very Big Structures.
Very Big, Indeed.
Click to embiggen this next one, if you'd like to see more colored light on the stone.
Leaving the cathedral; walking on toward the art museum.
Another knocker.
More cows, in the courtyard of the art museum.
(you can see the cathedral's spires, over her shoulder)
"Here is a cow who knows how to take care of herself. Before going out for the evening, nothing does it like a good bath. Steeping in a bit of wine is good for the color! All its seeds and tanins firm the skin. Mmmmm. All my Bordelaise girlfriends will ask me the secret of my beauty. Go now -- I am silent -- and enjoy my makeover made in great vintages."
Giant shiny crocodile, rising up from under ground.....
Now we are inside the museum. The collection is small (at least that part of the collection that was displayed), but nice.
My eye was caught by his dirty foot.
This was our favorite piece. We were surprised that it was given short shrift (near the back of the museum, behind a half-wall that made it hard to step back and look at it, and hard to photograph), especially since it was painted by a native son of Bordeaux.
My attempt at straightening it out.
There was one room with work from this century, and one piece of contemporary fiber art.
I quite like this.
In order to facilitate chronological traverse of these posts, here is a link to the post that comes after this one.
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