Versailles : The Hall of Mirrors

Walking into Versailles you will first find the sculpture Apollon by Jean Raon. This is not the only depiction of the sun god since Louis XIV closely identified with Apollo. This sculpture being in a nook suggests that it was not made to be viewed in the round. The form has so much contrapposto that if it was not for the support of the lyre the sculpture may have fallen over. The deeply carved lines into the clothing makes them more pronounced and their is a great amount of attention shown to the musculature of Apollo.
This attention to detail could only be expected after Jean Raon being trained by his master mason father and having attended the French Academy. Raon also studied three years in Rome supported by Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and upon his return began working at Versailles. Raon was continuously employed by Louis XIV to work on Charles Le Brun's sculpture, architecture, and landscape ideas until 1699. He then went onto be a member of the Royal Academy and became a professor in 1690.

Citations:
Chateau de Versailles. en.chateauversailles.fr. Chateau de Versailles, n/a. Web. 2 July 2013.
J. Paul Getty Museum. www.getty.edu. The Getty Museum, n/a. Web. 2 July 2013.

Golden Rose of Minucchio da Siena

This Golden Rose is one of three left in the world. Golden Roses were mentioned as far back as the 11th century and out of hundreds made this is the oldest one. Although, part of the Catholic faith, the ceremony of giving the rose has managed to stay the same over centuries. Every year on the 4th Sunday of Lent the Pope offers the rose to a sanctuary, king, queen, or distinguished individual as a sign of special devotion. The 4th Sunday of Lent is called Laetare in Latin. It is a time where in the middle of fasting the rules could be lightened and the cloth on the alter would be changed to be a rose color.
This particular rose was commissioned by Pope John XXII in 1330. He gave it to Rodophe Nidau III who had previously shown devotion towards the Pope. Nidau helped him settle a dispute with Emperor Louis of Bavaria. The Cluny gallery was also able to find the goldsmith who made this rose. His name was Minucchio. He was a member of Sienese artists in what was 14th century Avignon.


Citations:
National Museum of the Middle Ages. www.musee-moyenage.fr. Hotel de Cluny, n/a. Web. 2 July 2013.Rock, P.M.J. "Golden Rose." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: R
obert Appleton Company, 1909. 4 Jul. 2013 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06629a.htm>.

Champs Elysees : Arc de Triumph

The Arc de Triumph sits on the western end of the Champs Elysees built in honor of those who fought for France. Generals names and the Wars fought are engraved on the Arc, and the unknown soldier and memorial flame are placed underneath it. The four sculpture groups were done by James Pradier, Antoine Etex, Jean-Pierre Cortot, and Francois Rude: La Marseillaise.

The Arc was built between 1806 and 1836 and even though it was originally commissioned by Napoleon the Arc was turned into a memorial for soldiers, especially for those who served under him. Now not only is the Arc de Triumph a memorial for one thing but a memorial for all unknown or unidentified soldiers and each day the Memorial flame is rekindled at 6:30 since 1923. On top of that it has now become a key element is all National Holidays for France. 

It is also a piece of art. The four depictions of the figures have high amounts of detail and express strong emotion. It is said that Francois Rude's sculpture, The Departure of the Volunteers, is the most celebrated. After all it is Winged Victory leading the young and old into battle, seeming to promise that they will have victory.

Citations:

Arc de Triumph Paris. www.arcdetriompheparis.com. Arc de Triumph Paris, n/a. Web. 2 July 2013.

Mathieu Bock-Cote. identitenational.canalblog.com. National Identity, 20 Sept 2008. Web. 2 July 2013.

Pont Neuf : Boat Cruise

Pont Neuf meaning new bridge is the oldest bridge in Paris. The idea of the bridge was conceived by Henri II, the first stone was set by his son, it wasn't until Henri IV that work fully resumed and the bridge was finally opened on June 20, 1603. Right away the bridge was considered a central feature of royal architecture.
Parisians were also fans of the new bridge because even though it was made wide enough for houses none were allowed to be built. It gave them a chance to see the Seine in a new way and created a new place for socialization. Mainly the houses were kept off the bridge because Henri IV had just invested in the Louvre and wanted to keep a clear view of the museum.
Pont Neuf was designed and built by a team of 5 architects. The designs even had to be changed at one point giving the bridge five arches on one side and seven on the other with Jews Island as a middle point. Even with all the information that is known about Pont Neuf, historians are still asking questions about the faces underneath. There are 381 stone heads, each one making a different face; yet two stand out, appearing to be caricatures, possibly of his mistress.

Citations:
Marie de Paris. www.paris.fr. Paris, 09 Nov 2007. Web. 1 July 2013.
Victoria Yonkova. www.urbanghostsmedia.com. Urban Ghosts, 30 Oct 2012. Web. 1 July 2013.
n/a. www.fromparis.com. From Paris, n/a. Web. 1 July 2013.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel and construction began in 1887. It was supposed to be done to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution so it was finished in two years, two months, and five days. Right after its completion many Parisians did not like the Tower. They thought that it was ugly and would fall down if their was a bad storm. It was originally scheduled to be moved, but it became useful as a spot for an antenna. 

The tower has 1710 steps to the top, though visitors are only allowed to climb to the 2nd floor. It also takes 60 tons of paint to cover the whole tower which happens every seven years. It takes 25 painters 15-18 months to complete the job. In between the day it was opened to the public and now the Eiffel Tower and the Parisians have had some history making moments. Hilter visited the tower and was not able to go up because the lift was "broken". Also a man slid from level one to ground on a bike in 1923. Today the Eiffel Tower is a very safe and admired success with over 7 million visitors annually. 

Citations:

Paris Attractions. www.ieiffeltower.com. Paris Attractions, n/a. Web. 1 July 2013.

Eiffel Tower. www.tour-eiffel.fr. La Tour Eiffel, n/a. Web. 1 July 2013.

Container Zero : Centre Georges Pompidou

Container Zero by Jean Pierre Raynaud does not always have a print of a skull inside of it. Since 1988 Raynaud has filled this 3x3 meter container with various artworks of his. The tiles are 15x15cm and except for the light the unit never changes.
Originally Raynaud had a degree in Horticulture, but he abandon the line of work and produced his first artwork in 1962. Most of his artworks have flower pots that are filled with cement rendering them useless. This could be a symbol for him feeling that his life or his existence doesn't work in the world.
This piece could be symbolic in two possible ways. A skull could mean that Raynaud, 74 years old, is now considering the possibility of his own death. Or it is a direct statement about him musing about death in general. He talks about how when choosing the tile inside this box he went to a hospital and morgue to make sure that they used a similar tile.
Reynaud's work makes very blunt statements through complex thought. Maybe that is how he's managed to secure a spot in the Centre Georges Pomidou Museum for 25 years now.

Citations:
Palagret. archeologueover-blog.com. Archaeology Daily, Jan 2010. Web. 30 June 2013.
Centre Pompidou. www.cenrepompidou.fr. The Centre Pompidou, n/a. Web. 30 June 2013.
Evene. evene.fr. Geste, n/a. Web. 30 June 2013.

The Notre Dame

Construction of the Notre-Dame first began in 1163 when the first stone was laid. By the 14th century and four builders later it was completed. The Notre-Dame was built in the Early Gothic style having flying buttresses, multiple windows, the architects having figured out all the ways to eliminate the most stone, and having a rose window.
I would give more detail but, for our visit to the Notre-Dame we climbed up the outside. It was 387 steps up through the western facade to come out on top of the church. One thing that I wanted to know about is who designed the gargoyles. As it would turn out, in the 19th century it was noted that the Notre-Dame required extensive repairs and in 1845 Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-Le-Duc took on the task. The restoration took up the rest of Violet-Le-Duc's days. Part of those restorations was to the western facade and that is how the Notre-Dame got its gargoyles. In fact it was once believed that gargoyles would ward off evil spirits, but now days they typically serve as decorative drains on the tops of buildings.


Citations:
Notre-Dame. www.notredamedeparis.fr. Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris, n/a. Web. 30 June 2013.