Love and the Human Soul

~ Amore e Psiche ~, originally uploaded by dujarandille.

While searching around for James Tissot's paintings, I came upon this statue, Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss by Antonio Canova. This can be found in the Louvre and now I remember this as I remember being struck in awe over The Winged Victory of Samothrace. Winged Victory stood out more since it was so much older (190 BC) and I marveled at the movement of the piece. Not only could you feel the sea breeze, but you could tell it was a damp sea breeze. At the time, in 1984, I was 18 years old and developed the deep appreciation for statues. Some people get hung up on where the head or arms are. Fate or circumstances collaborated with the artist to edit the form to its essential being. To me, Winged Victory of Samothrace is absolutely perfect as it is.

Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss is more conventially beautiful and intact, but still impactful. Psyche's gaze upward and Cupid's tender examination of her face creates a moment where stone isn't stone. This moment is not unlike the moment created in Dore's Enigma between the angel and the Spinx. Instead of the Spinx' paw on the angel's head, you have Cupid cupping her head in his hand. Knowing the legend of Cupid and Psyche adds another layer to this piece. Their daughter is Delight or Goddess of "sensual pleasure," but the relationship between Cupid and Psyche is plagued with problems. Psyche's future Mother-in-law, Goddess of Love, is jealous by her beauty and perhaps doesn't think a mere mortal is good enough for her son. So she devises tests and tricks, which Psyche for the most part passes with help from those who are taken with her. She falls into sleep when she opens the box that was supposed to have beauty in it, but only had a sleep spell. Her vanity sets up this moment where Cupid brings her back from sleep. One could say that this moment in the story portrays how immortality and the divinity appeciates the human soul even in its imperfection.

Thanks dujarandille for taking this photo and capturing its spirit. Photographing a statue requires the ability to find that certain angle and lighting that brings out the essence of the piece. I think dujarandille does this and his sepia filter gives it the sense of romance and warms up the statue.

At some point, I am going to have to share with you my impressions of my visit to see Michaelangelo's David and his unfinished pieces in Florence, Italy.

WTF Pablo?!?

"Pablo Picasso was never called an a**hole" - Burning Sensations by way of The Modern Lovers

In 1907 Pablo Picasso and his girlfriend Fernande Olivier adopted a 13 year old orphan, Raymonde (one source has her being 10 years old). They adopted her after childless Fernande nagged Pablo to adopt an orphan. How hard could it be as Matisse had a 13 year old daughter? Again, with the rivalry with Matisse. It took only 4 months to figure out that this girl was just getting in the way. In Wayne Andersen's Picasso's brothel: les demoiselles d'Avignon cites that Pablo did some sketches of Raymonde that were disturbing in its sexual undertones (ew!). Biographers get the impression that Raymonde herself may have picked up on the creepy vibes from daddy Pablo. It has also been pointed out that Pablo dated younger and younger women. The sketch on the left here was a sketch of Raymonde on May 1907.

This couple didn't have the courage to send her back themselves. They got their friend Max Jacob to do the deed. He took her to the orphanage where the workers told him he was a bad father and that if he goes through this he cannot adopt again. Raymonde cries. Max cries. Max takes Raymonde for a meal, but ultimately he has to dump her at the orphange. Max covered for Pablo and Fernande while they never really treated him well. Pablo and Fernande end up breaking up anyway and later Pablo cites that they really broke up over Raymonde.

When the Nazis came to take Max away for being Jewish (even though he converted to Catholicism years prior) Pablo did nothing to help his friend. WTF, Pablo. Practice cowardice much?

I may very well end up reading several biographies to figure out what happened and WTF is wrong with you. I love your work. I was close to being 18 in 1984 when I took the AP European History exam where one of the essay questions asked me to analyze Guernica. My heart danced, my eyes brightened, and I said to myself, "Cake!" I rocked that essay and ever since loved that painting. That painting is timeless as it describes the horror of war and the innocence of the civilians who get caught in the crossfire. How can someone so brilliant can be such an (shall I say it) a**hole? I will probably end up reading about your biggest supporter, Gertrude Stein, too. She indulged you like so many others because of your brilliance.

My thoughts turn to Raymonde. What happened to Raymonde? Born in 1894, she is most likely dead. Did she survive the Flu epidemic? Did she survive WWII? That could be an interesting story.

It's Uku-Licious Baby

At the end of April I bought myself a Kala Tenor Ukulele (KA-TEM) at a local music store. This uke stood out with its beautiful grain patterns and when i plucked it the sound was warm and full. It was on sale for $124.00 so I took it home. Almost immediately I printed out songs from the internet and went about learning songs and building callouses. For the longest time I longed to play an instrument and the uke is small enough for my short fingers. When I get into the groove of a song it is such a high for me. I am still a year or two away from really being able to perform anything. At this point I have to get my friends drunk before I play for them. So when I bring my uke, I also bring a bottle of booze.

Impressions of The Birth of Impressionism

On May 21st I went to The Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco with my friend, who is a member. It was a preview for members as the exhibit runs from May 22 to September 6th. To prepare for my trip I read this most excellent book called, The Private Lives of the Impressionists. It featured a detailed account of the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War through the eyes of the Impressionists. So when I saw this over 6ft painting, Enigma by Gustave Dore at the exhibit it stopped me in my tracks. This painting was a startling departure from all the colors and light of the impressionists. This dark painting in grays features an angel imploring the spinx for succor and the spinx looks down at her with his paw on her head. This is a poignant moment amongst the mangled war dead and Paris burning in the background. Its large size helps you make out the detail better in the darkness of the painting. It was aptly sobering as the annus terrible itself.

The rest of the show was absolutely beautiful and makes one want to spend hours and perhaps days at the actual Musée d'Orsay rather than quench one's desire. One of my favorites was from Alfred Stevens (1817-1875) painting, The Bath. This painting was considered scandalous at the time as all the Impressionist's work was. What I love about this paining is how she relaxed in a luxurous bath holding roses with a beautiful robe and book open. In person, this painting's colors were sumptuous. The woman's expression is one of thoughtful contentment who really doesn't care to acknowledge the audience. This woman knows how to relax and surround herself with beautiful things. She is not even paying attention to the watch in the soapdish. This redhead is a reader and dreamer like myself. I indentified with this woman.

Speaking of dreamers, another painting I loved was James Tissot's The Dreamer (Summer Evening). Now, Tissot (1836–1902) is not normally considered a heavy hitter in the legion of Impressionists, but there is a reason this painting was included in this exhibit. According to The Private Lives of Impressionists, Tissot as Alfred Stevens were the most commercially successful as they moved to England. I just love the palatte, the glow, and how this painting communicates the act of dreaming. This woman sits in a comfortable oversized chair with an huge fluffy pillow. She is sitting next to a lake or pond in the evening and perhaps is gazing into a campfire. Something in the air whether it is music, smells, or the beauty around her transports her into a dreaming state. It is interesting to note that this painting is listed as being painted in 1871, the roughest of years.

Claude Monet's painting, Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Festival of June 30, 1878, is a joyous creation that really captures the emotions of celebration. There is a riot of color, excitement, movement, and the need to celebrate France seven years after the disasterous Franco-Prussian War and the 1871 Commune. There is unity of a people conveyed in this painting. People are in the streets together in a positive way. It is suggestive of better times ahead despite the dark memories. I could actually hear the roar of the crowds and the sounds of the furling flags snapping from the wind. You almost can imagine that the clouds are being pushed across the sky by that same wind.

I purchased this print as a postcard and bought cups of Degas' The Dancing Lesson also at the exhibit. The dancer in the foreground standing by the piano has this red bow in her hair that really pops. I also dug The Floor Scrapers, by Gustave Caillebotte for his wonderful sense of texture with the curls of wood and the contours of the workmen's muscles. I don't recall disliking any of the paintings and I have to say my appreciation of Impressionism deepend and ripened through seeing the paintings in person and reading about the lives of these painters. The exhibit shows you what work the establishment expected: representational work with bibical or mythological subjects. The Impressionists fearlessly broke the rules and were called insane madmen.

The DeYoung will have the second part of their exhibit starting on September 25th called, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay. It is certainly on my calendar.

Starting on June 5th, the Legion of Honor will be having an exhibit Impressionist Paris: City of Light, which:

explores various aspects of Parisian society and the French art world from roughly 1850 to the turn of the 20th century. Picturesque views of the narrow streets and stone bridges of old Paris by Charles Marville, Charles Meryon, and Johan Barthold Jongkind give way to colorful images of modern Parisian life, with Edgar Degas, Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard, and Georges Seurat offering public and private views of the bustling metropolis. Prints and periodicals featuring the work of Honoré Daumier, Edouard Manet, Paul Signac, and James Tissot convey key historical events and underscore the emergent role of illustrated art journalism. A gallery of black-and-white works on paper by Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt, and Paul Gauguin reveal another side of the exhibition. The spectacle of modern life is conveyed through galleries devoted to popular entertainment in late 19th-century Paris, including colorful images of the theater, café-concerts, circus, as well as the Expositions Universelles. The exhibition concludes in a blaze of color with a selection of posters of the turn of the 20th century by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jules Chéret, Théophile Steinlen, and Alphonse Mucha.

Yet Another Obsession...Artisan Cheeses

To be frank, I have always enjoyed cheeses. One of my highlights when I was in Europe in 1984 was to visit Edam and try their cheeses. It made the train trip very delightful to have Edam Cheese and Red Wine. Over the years, I have always been open to trying new cheeses. My dear friend Dot has turned me on to Stilton and various other cheeses. She even gave me cheese as a birthday gift. My other dear friend, Alf has cheese themed parties. We were at the opening of our local farmers' market and Alf lamented they had no cheesemonger. Another friend an I had discovered a great cheesemonger at the local Paradise Market and I allowed Alf to kidnap me so I could introduce her to this great cheesemonger. This lead to a cheese party that featured cow cheese, goat cheese, and sheep cheese. We had the herb encrusted Purple Haze from Cypress Grove, Sir Francis Drake from Cowgirl Creamery (Cowgirl's limited edition cheese which was "Da Bomb" or just an amazing cheese), and Spanish sheep cheese Cana De Oveja (which is pungent, ultra smooth, and sticks to the roof your mouth in a good way).

Yesterday, I finally got to visit the new Whole Foods in Novato and they have a decent cheese section and were handing out samples of delicious Gouda. Their cheese guy seems to work in the late afternoon or evening shift, so I will let you know how he compares to our cheesemonger at Paradise Market. I bought a small wedge of Cypress Grove's Truffle Trembler (pictured above from A Gluten Free Guide).

Cypress Grove's Truffle Trembler grabbed my eye because of its looks. There are tiny specs of black truffles. Just look at that picture! Doesn't it beg to be tasted? I open it up and there is this amazing earthy aroma. I happen to love all shrooms for their taste and smell, so if you are not in love with fungii like I am this may not be for you. I don't think I have ever really had black truffles, so this was kind of a nice way to initiate myself. I just spread it on pieces of crusty fresh french baguette and was transported. I had to leave and do an errand and in the car I was smelling the earthy aroma in the car. All afternoon I would catch wafts of the cheese which I can only describe as sexy earthiness that transports you to the French Countryside hunting for truffles with your dog after the rains. The cheese is crumbly, has a complex taste and texture.
It is a cheese that makes me want to hunt down the perfect wine pairing for it and willing to spend over my usual $20 and maybe my cheese pairing limit of $40. This cheese is a keeper.

We have been having unseasonable rain and this cheese was just perfect for a rainy day.

I will be sharing with you my love of cheese and wine on this blog as well as for France, Art, History, and Perfume.

Heaven is a Parisian Apartment

Some people like to watch naked people doing things to themselves and others. My porn is this photo right here. My porn involves luxury real estate sites especially those located in Paris, France. What turns me on, so to speak, is an apartment with a view like this that has enough bedrooms to have my family and friends visit. Having a study and having a nice dining room to have lovely dinners makes me flush with desire.

This photo is of an apartment in the 16th District on the Right Bank of the Seine. This the view from its rotunda dining room. The living room and entrance faces the Trocadero Gardens.

I would never tire of waking up and taking coffee with a view of Eiffel Tower. Wouldn't this be a way to retire? Wouldn't it be grand if my obituary read how at age 95 I passed away in my Paris apartment?

This apartment is a freestone building that dates from 1929, it is about 2347 sq feet has 4 bedrooms, a study room, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, a cellar, staff bedroom, and parking. It is all mine for anywhere between 2.3 million to 5 million. It is on the Seine River, facing the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero Gardens. Looking at this photo I can teleport myself there sitting there with this window open in the summer and sit there with champagne or wine. I could watch the barges pass by and marvel at the Eiffel tower lit up at night. After dinner we could pull up high backed chairs with cognac and talk all night.

At first I thought the address was 62 Avenue de New York, Paris France. Now I am convinced it is 1 Rue Le Nôtre, Paris, France due to the fact the building entrance faces Trocadero Park. The reason I know the address is because from the above picture I was able to figure its relation to the Eiffel Tower. Then, using satellite view in google maps I was able to see a building that faces both Trocadero Park and Eiffel Tower with a rotunda feature. Then in street view I was able to match the wrought iron design in the balcony. I can also verify what floor it was by the shape of the windows. In a picture below in the study facing the dining room, you see a window shaped like the window up on the floor I marked with a black box. It is an arched window. It is possible it may be on the top floor since I was unable to see the top floor.

It would be sweet to have a mailing address: 1 Rue Le Nôtre, Paris, France. Sitting at my desk, in my study I could pull out stationary embossed with the return address DKC, 1 Rue Le Nôtre, Paris, France. My black pug, Mitsouko, could lounge on the leather sofa in the study as we listen to classical music on Radio Classique. It is now winter and there is a roaring fire in the study fireplace. All the bookcases would be full of books to read. I would have a larger desk and a more brown or tan leather couch. What better place to cozy up to the fire reading a novel? I want to smell the ink from the bronze inkwell and feel the sensation of an ink quill on fine weighted stationary paper.

Being built in 1929 means that it was built in an era that has captured my interest -- the era between world wars. This means this place must have seen the invasion of Paris and survived the war.

One of the bedrooms would be where our flat screen television, couch, washer and dryer, and exercise equipment would be as the living room would not have television, but be reserved to having guests. The other two bedrooms would be for guests to stay and I would have the master bedroom. The main rooms of this place should not have mundane things like televisions, exercise machines, and washing machines. My fantasy places need to be magical.

For the dining rotunda, I would have to have a large round dining table with white linens, and white floral centerpiece with candles. The table would have to have spaces for up to 14 to 16 ppl. Right here is an antique regency revival mahogany table. The chairs would all be wrapped in sumptuous chair covers, of course.

I wish they had pictures of the kitchen and bedrooms. Does it really matter though? They give enough material about this place that I can escape to this happy place. Where I can have my perfumes on a vanity and take walks by the Seine. Wear Chanel. Have a bob of henna'd hair.

Back in 1984, I loved walking in Paris and it would be such a joy to be able to go to museums, cafes, and various gardens again. If I want to go to the Champs-Elysees to Guerlain or Chanel Boutiques, I could walk to the Passy or Trocadero Metro. Basically, it is mind boggling how many places I could get to on the metro. Using street view on Google, I was able to experience walking from this apartment to the Musee de l'Art Moderne de la ville de Paris , then the Chanel boutique, and then the Guerlain Boutique on the Champs-Elysees. Also using street view, I was able to walk to Soleil de Franklin where I can walk to get produce. OMG! Imagining that I could be walking distance to Chanel and Guerlain gets me hot and bothered in the very best way.

Being in Paris would put me in the position to take trains to Istanbul, Venice, Vienna, Dresden, and Bern.

For me heaven is a Parisian apartment.

Amouage Epic was a sublime accident thinking I ordered Amouage Lyric. The first time I got the vial I put a tiny droplet on the top of my hand, as I had another fragrance on my wrist from earlier. It was impressive that even though I was wearing Coco, I could from this one droplet detect its character. There is this soft sweetness I remember from that quick sniff of Lyric, it is never cloying because it is perfectly balanced with spices. There is pink pepper and tea in there. That droplet had so much going on I knew this would be the perfect scent for the New Year. The scent makes you want to recline and think of being strewn on silken sheets with incense around you in a palace.

I shopped to find the perfect top and jewelry for the perfume and found a ruffled, gauzy shirt with dark red and pinkish rose poppies with green leaves and a black background. I also found gold jewelry that suggested Central Asia.

I waited until I was fully showered, dressed, and made up to put the full application of Epic. Listening to the New York Philharmonic play Gershwin fit this sublime sweetness beginning -- that beautiful peppery rose opening lasts for a couple of hours where we decide where we want to go, drive, walk on street lit up with glorious holiday lights, and wait for a table and our food with a perfect straight up martini. Then at the start of dinner the fragrance just opens up and gives an "epic" performance of roses, spices...everything it got. It shocks and awes in a lovely way. Having pillowy, garlicy naked clams and in the halo of Epic was just perfect. My only sticking point was I picked an Italian white, which didn't quite work. Maybe I should have gone with a Fume Blanc. Oh well.

Then as we started driving home the fragrance danced one last time to the fusion live jazz on the radio and then it adjusts itself again and centers itself into a low flame of incense with a hint of the sweetness that was there all along. When I say "centered" I mean that this incense was the type for meditation - there was nothing distracting -- just this resinous low flame.

Overall, we all ate well and hubby was able to share in the perfume's various stages. The sillage was 6-12 inches according to hubby. The experience was so touching and wonderful, I was eager to recapture it. I went over to share Epic with a perfumista friend. While it was lovely, Epic should never be worn when just watching Bowl games. It just didn't work. My suspicions about this perfume was correct, it needs to be worn for special events where the tempo is slower and everything glows and is romantic or dear. Epic is not a casual perfume. Lesson learned. Yet, one last little spritz today as I relax at home. Then I promise to put it away til some special occasion.