Paris is indisputably the main symbol of France and the heart of French culture, history, and contemporary life, but it is only outside of Paris that one can begin to appreciate the true abundance and diversity of this land. Its scenery rivals any in the world, from the French Alps to the rugged Brittany coast, from the forests of the Dordogne to the wheat fields of the Midi, from the vineyards of the Loire Valley to the sunny Rivera. Its geography lends itself to the products, from its world-famous wines and cheese, to sunflowers, oysters, mineral water, and air-dried salt. Its industries products a wide range of products, from cookware and textiles to cars.
Paris is the undisputed heart of France, and one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in the world. Armed with tickets for the Paris subway, or metro, one can spend a day (or a lifetime) visiting sights ranging from ancient Roman baths to ultramodern Pompidou Center, or simply relax in one of the city’s many parks and squares. Even in the oldest parts of the city, however, a vibrant present is part of the scene. For example, the Serene Cluny Museum, which showcases medieval art amid Romans ruins, opens onto the Boulevard St.-Michel, known locally as the Boul’ Mich’, in the lively student quarter. And in the amazing courtyard of the former royal palace, the Louvre, there is a glass pyramid, designed by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, which in 1989 began to serve as a new entrance to the museum.
Perhaps the most famous city stroll in the world begins at the Eiffel tower, built in 1899, and then continues along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, a Roman-style arch built in 1836 to commemorate the victories of ...
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...nded up taking 150 years. The cathedral has awed people throughout the centuries with its 270-foot spire and graceful flying buttresses, which are curved pillars propping up the exterior walls at the front, or apse, of the church. The interior is spacious but quite dark, with little more than hundreds of prayer candles to dispel the gloom. At the time the cathedral was built, stone walls were not strong enough to support their weight as well as that of the roof if windows were too large. But the overall darkness of the church is offset by the remarkable rose window at the entrance to the cathedral, which forms a halo over a statue of the Virgin Mary, for whom the cathedral is named. The window’s thirty-one-foot diameter made it one of the engineering marvels of its time, and is delicately patterned colored glass is some of the finest ever manufactured.
She closed her eyes slowly, tuning the harpies out. When she opened them, she gazed up at the ceiling, tracing the high, arcing beams that came together in a beautiful golden rosette. The church her mother-in-law had chosen for her departed son’s service was an old one, with timber walls, huge, multi-paneled stained-glass windows and enough golden gild that put together, could probably rival the weight of the Charging Bull on Wall Street.
“Before I Came to Paris”, is the first chapter of Gertrude Stein’s novel, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, in which Alice B. Toklas narrates a basic history of her life and the events leading to her departure for Paris. Alice was born in San Francisco, California where her grandfather, a pioneer, had moved to in 1849 and married her grandmother, a music lover. Men of the family participated in Paris battles leaving behind the family for some time, eventually returning as land owners. Alice was not a fan of the violence that her family participated in but rather had hobbies in needlework and gardening. She was also interested in paintings, furniture, tapestry, houses, flowers, vegetables and a view that was not looked at. Alice was the
The “Cathedral” is a first person story, but the narrator remained unnamed throughout the writing. This is a different point of view than the painting, which is first person, Ground Swell pictures individuals on a sailboat looking at a buoy floating in the ocean. As the viewer of Ground Swell we can only wonder what else is around the sailboat, whether they are near land or by a dock, it leaves us with a feeling of unknowing. In the
Ziggy Marley once said, “God is like the sun. When the sun shines, it shines for everyone. God is for everyone.” In the same way, Abbot Suger built the Basilica of St. Denis so that sunlight would flood throughout the building and symbolize the power of God inviting visitors into the cathedral. The Basilica of St. Denis was an artistic response to the rise of the Catholic Church’s power for it was modeled to be a physical representation of heaven, which the church heavily preached upon. (Thesis) As the basilica represented the shift from Romanesque architecture to Gothic, Abbot Suger introduced new techniques that transformed cathedrals to look more spacious and “heavenly”. (Map Statement #1-Art History) By allowing sunlight to come through the large windows, Abbot Suger instilled the Neo-Platonic idea that the sun was the physical representation of God. (Map Statement #2 –Philosophy) Also, at that time, the church was rising in power, so the new structural style of the basilica brought more converts and eventually more power to the church. (Map Statement #3 –Social Institutions) [Insert Literature Map Statement] The Basilica of St. Denis was built so that worshippers would be in awe of the “heaven-like” setting, which would cause more people to declare their faith to God and to the church.
Papanicolaou, Linda Morey. “Stained Glass from the Cathedral of Tours: The Impact of the Sainte-Chapelle in the 1240’s.” Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 15, (1980): pp. 53-66. Print.
The region of Aquitaine. France is bounded by many landforms and consists of vineyards or châteaux, beaches, and The Landes. Bounding Aquitaine, you can find Limousin to the northeast, the Atlantic ocean to the west, Midi-Pyréneées to the east, and Spain to the south (Dordogne, Bordeaux & the Southwest Coast). An hour drive south of Bordeaux, the sixth largest city in France, is home to several wine-producing properties, or châteaux. Château Haut-Brion, the most famous château in France, is the first vineyard that you will travel upon (Morley 238). This château is a mansion dating back to around 1533 when Jean de Pontac brought the château to the world (Château Haut-Brion). Where there are not vineyards, there are beaches. The region has a 140 mile coastline stretching from the estuary to Arcachon. At Arcachon, swimming is limited to a seasonal recreational activity due to the high surfs. Although, the resorts offer other recreation activities to enjoy on yo...
Compared to other countries, France’s economy is the fourth largest in the world. France is a very industrialized nation, yet it has kept some of the cultural characteristics that contribute to its old-world charm. The economy is “exceptionally diversified” (“Economic Structure”, 1). It produces everything from aircrafts to pharmaceuticals.
The “superstar” museum gained this status by considering every important detail during its establishment and initial phases of conversion from royal palace to museum (Gombault, 2002). As the purpose of the building changed, each room addressed new functions with new requirements. Although the function of the Louvre is different from the building’s original intention, the building is still appears dignified and important enough to display priceless artifacts and painting (Steffensen-Bruce, 1998). This consideration was applied in designing the Met. The Met looked towards the South Kensington Museum (Victoria and Albert) and the “ideal role model” due to its extensive collections and international reputation (Heckscher, 1995). The Met found itself in a similar situation to the South Kensington, because it did not have a building or a collection to start with (Heckscher, 1995). When designing museums, architects strived to create monuments that “prepare and educate the mind of the visitor (Steffensen-Bruce, 1998).” Education is an essential function of a museum. Acquiring, preserving, and properly displaying materials, permits a museum to fulfill this duty (Steffensen-Bruce, 1998). For instance, lighting is a factor that affects the manner in which artwork is viewed and can be properly appreciated. When determining the proper lighting for the Louvre, Comte d’Angiviller, strongly believed that natural, overhead lighting was the most effective solution (McClellan, 1994, p. 72). The same determination impacted the decision to add skylights at the Met. During the initial phase, architects Vaux and Mould, added skylights to the upper floor, and windows to the lower floor that provided a natural light solution (Heckscher, 1995). Additionally, glass-roofed courtyards provided “unimpeded light” for displaying
The Façade, designed by the architect Carlo Maderno, “Is 114.69 metres wide and 48 metres high, and has an order of Corinthian columns and pilasters, over which lies an imposing cornice with a central tympanum, crowned by a balustrade with thirteen statues (nearly 6 metres high).” There can be found an inscription on the entablature stating that the Façade was built under Pope Paul V Borghese. In the lower order there are five entrances to the atrium, over which are nine windows, three of which possessing a balcony. The main window, the “Benediction Loggia”, where the Pope gives his blessing upon his election, and at Christmas and Easter. When Maderno added the nave, which is the main body of the church,
The Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (I.M) is known as one of the greatest architects of the Twentieth Century. His long, brilliant career was highlighted by several internationally famous structures. While many of Pei’s buildings were generally accepted by the public, some of them precipitated fair amounts of controversy. The most notable of these controversial structures is his Glass Pyramid at the entrance of the Louvre in Paris. For these reasons, I.M. Pei seems to be an architect who exhibits interest in the avant-garde through both the creative design and aestheticism of his architecture.
This cathedral was built during the Medieval Period for the worshipers of God. To this day pilgrims come to see the pure, Gothic cathedral. The massive cathedral seems to loom overhead as if a symbol of God watching over the worshippers that visit. The earlier church burned in 1194, it was rebuilt and has gained a much more appreciated and admirable character distinction, statuary, and stained glass. The distinct character of the thirteenth century was captured, through the “Age of Faith” period. The architecture is Gothic which was very popular in the 1200s. Gothic architects created a frame of support with columns and arches so that the walls no longer need to support the ceilings, but are freed up to hold windows. The Gothic structure allows for plenty of windows. Chartres has a significant collection of medieval stained glass, with over 150 early thirteenth century windows. The windows allowed sunlight to enter the dark, Gothic cathedral in order to highlight the story of Christ through the stained glass windows told throughout history to pilgrims alike. These windows create a spiritual and promising place for thought and prayer. Stained glass was used to help teach the stories of Christ to people that were illiterate during the medieval times. While most worshippers of that day were illiterate, comprehending the symbolism of the story of Christ in each of the windows was vital and gave meaning towards adversity during the medieval ages, as they struggled through their dark and dreary lives, which were filled with hopefulness, while viewing the story through the stained glass windows. The windows are also...
The windows were of stained glass showing bible stories and saints lives in them, And the design structure enabled cathedrals to rise higher than ever. It even became a contest for architects – who could build a cathedral as tall as possible. A cross shape was used for windows allowing crossbowmen to shoot attackers from the inside, and a cross plan was also used for the shape of a cathedral as seen from a bird’s eye view.
Another aspect of Gothic architecture, that was heavily influenced by religion, is the implementation and utilization of the rose window. It depicts the final judgement of man and is part of the Gothic tradition in which biblical and historical stories were portrayed in stained glass and sculpture. At a time when most of the population was illiterate, these embellishments made biblical scripture available to everyone. [Pevsner, Nikolaus. 1963. An Outline of European Architecture. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books.]
French culture and society has evolved from many different aspects of French life. From the mastery of French cuisine to the meaning of French art, the French have changed and evolved in many ways to produce a specific modern culture, the dignified culture of the French. One thing that parallels the progress and continuation of French culture is the role of women throughout France. Compared to other nations, the role and rights of women in France were confronted earlier and Women’s suffrage was enacted earlier. The role of women in France, because of the early change in perception of women, enabled France to develop faster and with less conflict than other competing nations.
When I was a child I used to be frightened of entering such a place for it seemed so imposing and somewhat dangerous, especially when music was being played. One day, in order to keep a promise I had made, I saw myself forced to enter. It took me quite a while to get the courage to pass through the old oak door, but the moment I stepped in, I realized just how enchanting and breathtaking this building could be. Its fantastic architecture and exquisite frescoes reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. The way in which the church was built is also the vivid testimony of a medieval period. Although it is a place that can sometimes be cold and ask for respect it is where prayers are answered and magic is done. An overwhelming feeling of inner harmony takes over you once you enter and God seems much closer. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption’s house. The tower allows you to see the entire town from the smallest river to the biggest building site, offering you its mightiness.