Madame Louvre, Monet, and Monsieur Rodin

What is there to say about the Louvre, that hasn’t been said before? The stunning fortress/palace/museum walls, the iconic glass pyramid, and the unending hallways packed with more art than your imagine would ever allow? It was as beautiful, exhilirating, as it was frustrating. The amount of times we looped to find the shiny gold sarcophagus in the Sully Wing - only to find out that “it isn’t that shiny” - was close to laughable. Mona Lisa was our first stop, and most people are amazed with how small she is. But to be there, was a bigness I can’t describe. Next we walked throughout the European paintings, enjoying the French and Italian collection specifically. Some names we knew, others we just enjoyed. Other paintings we hunted down - such as The Lacemaker by Vermeer. We edged around sculptures such as The Dying Slave by Michelangelo, The Kiss by Rodin, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and The Sleeping Hermaphroditus by Bernini. It was a head rush and a headache, and we loved every minute in there. Five hours later we left the Louvre to walk through the Christmas Market of Jardin des Tuileries, and the cold air that walked in front of us in breathes of grey had new meaning. You cannot visit the Louvre, the works of art it protects, and stroll as you had done before.

At Musée de l'Orangerie we were able to enjoy the beautiful simplicity of a small museum. It had white oval arching walls that displayed a work of art Monet took 12 years to accomplish: his waterlilies. This was a personal favorite of mine, because you were automatically thrown into a reality where there was no up or down - but only an in-between, bathed in light. His lilies were almost emotional, and his willow trees sympathetic. I simply cannot use the word beautiful enough.

However, it wasn’t until we ventured into Musée d'Orsay did we really get to embrace Monet throughout the ages, and see the progression of his art. His art there was shouldered next to Pissarro, Renoir, Manet, and lead to Suerat, Signac, and Van Gough. Van Gough’s self portraits were more breathtaking in person than any emotion a printed page could render. This museum also had an exhibit on Degas, and his fascination of behind-the-scenes. All of which were as whimsical and moving on the canvas as you would imagine.

The Rodin Musée was so fun. We got to appreciate bronze sculptures, first of all, and loved viewing his process of cast making and sketching. Gates of Hell and The Thinker were incredibly impressive, and I enjoyed his sculpture of Victor Hugo. Jamie and I brought in chocolates from Hugo and Victor, a French Patisserie and Chocolaterie, which we enjoyed as we warmed ourselves next to cast models of The Kiss.

While Notre-Dame was under construction, we got to still witness the large stain glass windows of Sainte-Cappelle. Yet the museums of Paris are one of the main reasons to love Paris, and if you do not take time to visit them, then I would boldly state you have not seen what Paris has to offer.

The Lourve…