Matisse/Marquet Correspondences

This exhibit was the only one in which we were charged upon entry. The other museums were all free of charge. I don't know if that is due to the fact that we were tourists or if it's free foreveryone. Regardless I was anxious to take my time and soak it all in. Now Matisse has never been one of my favs but I do admire Marquet's work. I wished so badly I could read French as their correspondence with each other would have been interesting to follow. I didn't know beforehand that they were close friends and that Marquet had painted Matisse's wife. Matisse's letters also included his signature sketches of himself in the sidebar.

Matisse's work

Matisse Self Portrait

Trees in Billancourt

Albert Marquet

We ended up spending the better part of the morning just strolling through the exhibit. Pictures were allowed but "no flash" as I soon found out when I accidently forgot to turn it off. Sorry....


On our way to the Museum of Contemporary Art we stopped at a cafe and had a wonderful pizza and of a course a beer........no Kronenbourg so a Leffe would have to do.

We headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art by way of the Garonne River. Warning: pics of me ahead.

So we arrive and I am so excited because I absolutely adore contemporary art and can't wait to spend the rest of the day taking it all in. John was such a good sport.

Major Disappointment ahead......

First off, the building was beyond anything I had ever seen before. Anyone who loves architecture would weep. The stonework, the archways and the stairs were breathtaking. The building, as far as I was concerned, was the art.

Because of the language barrier I wasn't really sure if paintings were housed within these stone walls or whether they ever would be. There were two small video installations upstairs, one by Christopher Hutins and the other artist I don't remember. As we were wandering around we came upon this quaint rooftop cafe and decided to sit awhile and order a cappucino........this place was dream like.

Here are a few of the installations that were shown at the Museum.........no paintings. Art is and will always be subjective.........I am the first person to say it because it is so, but this wasn't my cup of tea. Perhaps if I knew the language and could read the cards beside the work, I would have a better understanding of what the artist was offering but................wasn't going to happen.











Next post: More food, more wine, more chocolate .........wandering around Bordeaux.

Musee des Beaux-Arts

Day 2 - John has decided we must move to Bordeaux. I listen nodding my head intently with a understanding but quizzical look on my face. After he was done I listed three obstacles standing in our way

1. We could never afford to live here

2. We have no job prospects

3. We do not speak French

He blows off this reasoning seeing obstacles as simple details. I love his optimism and decide to let him run with it.

This morning after a record breaking 12 hour sleep we awoke to find out we had missed breakfast. John ran downstairs and grabbed us a coffee (really strong) and a couple of pastries....you know a nice healthy French breakfast. After that I eat a chocolate covered caramel I find in my purse which I had forgotten about. I thought I devoured them all yesterday.

With map in hand we set out to not only explore the city but to visit the Musee des Beaux-Arts. The grounds of the museum were jaw droppingly gorgeous. Unbelievably well tended to with this sculpture prominently featured which I saw as a mix of the present and the past.

The Musee des Beaux-Arts houses 15th to 20th century works by Titian, Rubens, Delaxroix, Vernonese and others. There was also a Mattise/Marquet exhibit featured at their sister building which was only a few blocks away. More on that in my next post. I also found a textile piece as well as etchings . Here's a few pics...

This was our favourite painting which was entitled "The Building of Bordeaux" by Pierre Lacour. It had to be at least 8' x 10' and the attention to detail was stunning. You could sit for hours just taking it all in as there was so much going on in every section of the work. It was mesermizing.

Next post the Matisse/Marquet exhibit..............