A Macaron Frenzy?

My personal favorite — not for daily consumption, bien sûr – while living in Paris was the Amarilys proposed by the local pâtisserie, two pale green pistachio macarons with fresh raspberries at the center, held together by a light pastry cream.

Do you have a favorite?

The third and most important reason to celebrate the day is the birthday of my younger daughter. Coincidentally, on my own birthday last month, this exceptional young woman gifted me with macarons from the New York outpost of Ladurée. I knew I raised that kid right!

Happy birthday, Mandy.

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

(Photo, Le Phare dunquerquois)

© 2012 Jane del Monte

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Women have been changing the course of French history since 451, when a prayer marathon promoted by a certain Geneviève de Nanterre saved Paris, diverting Attila and his Huns away from the city. Instead, he attacked Orléans. Geneviève was rewarded with sainthood and became patron saint of Paris. Her tomb is in the Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, one of the most charmingly eccentric churches in all of Paris.

Sainte Geneviève Looks Down on the City of Paris (Sculpture, Paul Landowski; photo, Guimis PD-US)

Orléans was again under siege, this time by the English during the Hundred Years War, when a young girl liberated the city and paved the way to the coronation of Charles VII. Of course I mean Jeanne d’Arc, who became one of the patron saints of France and a political symbol to this day.

Portrait of Jeanne d'Arc, the Maid of Orléans (Artist unknown; PD-US)

Marie-Antoinette changed the course of history by her presence more than her actions. A scapegoat was needed; she filled the role. Just to briefly mention her contribution to the arts, under her patronage two women artists flourished — Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebrun, who chronicled the lives of royals and aristocrats, and Anne Vallayer-Coster. Both managed to keep their heads as the Revolution raged around them. Their works are featured in one of the exhibitions mentioned further down.

Portrait of Marie-Antoinette (Martin von Meytens, 1767; PD-US)

Many women changed the lives of other women. Simone de Beauvoir, of course, but there were others who came before, too numerous to name. Two whom I have mentioned before in these pages changed the lives of women in different ways – Marguerite Durand and Madeleine Vionnet.

A New Translation of The Second Sex, by Sheila Malovany-Chevalier and Constance Borde

Marie Sklodowska-Curie accumulated a series of “firsts,” She was the first person honored with two Nobel prizes – in physics and chemistry, the first female professor at the University of Paris, and, in 2005, the first woman to be entombed, on her own merits, at the Panthéon.

Pierre, Irène and Marie Curie (PD-US)

If, as claimed Coco Chanel, “Elegance is refusal,” Julie Récamier qualified, for not only did she rebuff the advances of Lucien Bonaparte, but she had refused to become lady-in-waiting to the Empress Joséphine, neither of which endeared her to Napoléon. Depicted by numerous artists of the time, she was renowned for her beauty, as well as for her salons where the illuminati of the day gathered. Sometimes just providing a place for the exchange of ideas facilitates the course of history.

Julie Récamier (François Gérard, 1802; PD-US)

Many women are noted for their association with a great man in their field. Camille Claudel was Rodin’s muse, mistress and student, yet today she is believed by many to have surpassed the master. Her work may be seen with his at the Musée Rodin. You decide..

Camille Claudel in her Workshop (PD-US)

Two exhibitions open today involving French women artists, one in Washington, D.C., the other in Paris.

In Washington, the National Museum of Women in the Arts will present the works of 35 women artists made between 1750 and 1850 in an exhibition entitled “Royalists to Romantics, Women Artists from the Louvre, Versailles and Other French National Collections.” The exhibitions runs through July 29. www,nmwa.org

Self Portrait of Elisabeth Vigée Lebrun

And in Paris, on the heels of an exhibition in Madrid, the Musèe Marmottan-Monet will present a retrospective of the work of Berthe Morisot. Morisot was the sister-in-law of Edouard Manet, and it has been generally believed that he was the master, she the student. However, the relationship was reciprocal, and one can see her influence in his work in the form of stylistic characteristics originated by Morisot. The exhibition continues through 1 July. www.marmottan.com

Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets (Edouard Manet, 1872; PD-US)

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

© 2012 Jane del Monte

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For those of you who haven’t yet visited the ARTS in PARIS Facebook page, click on the link for a few glimpses of Fashion Week.

I love Christian Louboutin’s comment (with the last slide) that the cabaret dancers were his inspiration.

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

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FRANCE Magazine

Lovers of France, that is. If you’re reading this, I think it’s safe to assume you figure among them? And I surmise, since many of you are fellow-bloggers, that you probably like to write. I thought this was good enough to share.

FRANCE Magazine is offering American readers the chance to write about their recent trips to France, with the oppotunity to win a $100 gift voucher.

To enter, email their editorial page at editorial@francemag.com. What do you have to lose?

Jan del Monte, bridging the difference

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Paris Scene

As you probably know, I’m always on board when it comes to mixing sustainable tourism with a plain, old-fashioned good time.

To kick off the new year, ARTS in PARIS offers you the opportunity to combine a visit to Paris with support for a very worthy cause. On any tour booked between now and April 1st, 10% of the tour fee will be donated to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins San Frontières (MSF). Click on the link to learn more about the wonderful humanitarian work of this extraordinary organization.

This offer covers prepackaged tours, as well as custom-designed personalized tours, and applies to all tours booked before April 1 and begun before December 31, 2012.

The next scheduled tour is Impressions of Paris, from May 3 – 11, 2012. For details on this tour, Schedule of Activities and Pricing Information, visit the site by clicking the link.

If spring travel is not on your agenda, learn about the Biennale des Antiquaires tour in September 2012.

I hope we can meet this year in Paris.

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

(Photo by Michele Melick)

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Eiffel Tower, Paris

As we enter the New Year, I would like to thank everyone who has had a part in the development of ARTS in PARIS. Starting a new business can be daunting, not to mention often lonely, and so, to everyone who has contributed their moral support, resources, suggestions, and to all of those who have recounted their experiences in Paris and in France, my infinite gratitude.

Beginning a new project  is a leap of faith, requiring a belief in something that doesn’t exist at that time. I am happy to report that ARTS in PARIS is alive and well, and continues to grow and evolve. I expect and hope it will always be a work in progress.

We are looking forward to some interesting experiences this year. In May, our Impressions of Paris tour will take place, an opportunity to experience this city that inspired the Impressionnists at one of the most beautiful seasons of the year.

Then, in September, one of my favorite arts events takes place — The Biennale des Antiquaires. I love this salon, and I want to share it. Two years ago, due to a conflict, I missed it — and vowed NEVER to do so again. I will be in Paris this year and invite you to join me. The schedule for the tour will be published soon.

Although predicting the future is not a skill I claim, I can promise you a year filled with interesting happenings in the world of French art, both in France and elsewhere. Paris being Paris, there is a lot going on, as usual.

To learn of events that take place during the year, be sure to consult “Save the Date.” on this site. I try to highlight the most interesting offerings, but it’s impossible not to miss a few. I would welcome your input, so if you hear of anything going on, please let me know.

So, having just scratched the surface of what to expect this year, I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

(Photo Credit: viZZZual.com)

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La Cilombe de la Paix (The Dove of Peace), stained glass by Guy Breniaus, photo by Fazland

Bonne Fête — Merry Christmas

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Book a tour with ARTS in PARIS during the month of October and 10% of your deposit will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (Tours must be completed by December 31, 2012.)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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Mint, lemon, coffee and chocolate macarons

Just another advantage of living in la Grande Pomme: this month, Manhattan welcomes the first American outlet of Maisons Ladurée. Operating in Paris since 1862, the venerable maison has branches in 12 (soon to be 13) countries in addition to the six in Paris (including one at the airport — what a fine idea! — and another at the château de Versailles). The shop will offer tea, preserves, chocolates and, of course, the legendary macarons.

The address? 864 Madison Avenue.

Pierre Hermé, what are you waiting for?

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

(Photo, Liliana Bozier)

© 2011 Jane del Monte

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Employing René Lalique’s lost wax technique and a special formula of copper and cobalt oxides to produce the color, — developed by Klein and known as IKB, or International Klein Blue — the sculpture is shown below. Read more…

Yves Klein, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Lalique

And what does this have to do with ARTS IN PARIS? Just that I’ve been immersed in the new site, with little time to blog here. I will do better. In the meantime, let me say the response to the site has been gratifying, So far this month, we’ve tripled the visits of last month. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll visit and give me your feedback. And of course, if you see a trip in your future, I’d like nothing better than to share Paris with you.

Jane del Monte, bridging the distance

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© 2011 Jane del Monte