23.2.12

Give your vote... please!




I have already posted (on my previous blog and on this one) on Place de Vendôme and the Vendôme Column.

Passing by a dull afternoon last week, I thought I should try some different illustrations of the column and then check which one you possibly prefer.

But first, maybe a few words about the column: It was originally erected by Napoleon to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz (1805). The 425 spiraling bas-relief bronze plates and the statue of Napoleon as a Roman Emperor and “peace-maker” on the top were made out of cannons taken from enemy armies. When Napoleon had abdicated and the Royalty was back, his statue was pulled down (and the bronze was used for the recast of the equestrian statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf (see previous post). Later in the 1830’s, during King Louis-Philippe’s reign, a replacement statue of Napoleon in a “modern” dress took place, again replaced by another more heroic version in the 1850’s during Napoleon III’s reign. Then, in 1871 (the Paris Commune), the whole column and statue were taken down (the bronze plates were preserved), finally to be re-erected in 1874 with a copy of the original statue on the top. (A copy of the original statue has been preserved.)


Addendum March 2: I learnt that the Napoleon statue you can find at the Invalides is the one which in the 1830's was on top of the column. See previous post: http://www.peter-pho2.com/2011/12/arch-of-triumph-something-more.html


So, back to my question: Which illustration do you prefer? If I give the top picture the number 1 – not necessarily my own choice, this one would be number 2…

… followed by number 3…




… number 4…

… number 5…


… number 6…


… number 7…


… number 8…


… and number 9.


Sorry, there is nothing to win except my gratitude for having commented and possibly “voted”.

45 comments:

PeterParis said...

Cal Norris already sent an email ... and voted for no 8, followed by no. 1!

Anonymous said...

My 13 year old votes for number 7.
He is decisive about such things. I am not.

Shane Pollard said...

Number 1 certainly says where it is, and I love that one.

It must go to the top of my list to view again on my next visit in June!
Thank you Peter
regards
Shane

e said...

numbers 1 and 6...Thanks for taking the time to share these photos.

Victoria Rock said...

I like most of the photos but number four is my favorite. I have never commented before may I say at this time that I am grateful and happy to view your beautiful photos and read your comments. Thanks for sharing.

Virginia said...

Peter, you knew I'd give my opinion, even if you didn't ask, but I"m going to be a rebel and say #8! I think it's very creative. Bravo for so many choices!!! I wish my photography students would listen when i urge them to take 10-12 photographs of a subject just to see if they can think outside the box. YOU most certainly did. :)
V

Maria O. Russell said...

The photo I like does not have a number...

Don`t you like N?

Pierre BOYER said...

Very interesting...

Pierre

Nikon said...

I like #2.

Olivier said...

j'aime la photo avec le reflet, je voterais pour la 4. belle serie

hpy said...

13! Aka 5+8.

Synne said...

I think number 3 is my favourite - I love that kind of composition!

Cergie said...

Et bien celle que je préfère est celle que tu n'as pas montrée, mais d'ailleurs y en-t-il seulement une qui est restée en rade ?
Le sort des statues des grands hommes est fort intéressant...

SusuPetal said...

8 and 9.

claude said...

J'aime assez la 3, la 4 et la 5,
sans doute parce que les réverbères me branche !
Par contre les détails de la colonne sont supers chouettes.
Il manque une boîte, celle dans laquelle trempe de pinceau qui a servi à lasurer la fenêtre, C'est bien évidement aussi une boîte de conserve.
Sur ce, je vais passer la deuxième couche de peinture.

Claudia said...

3 et 5!

Cergie said...

Tu ne savais pas qu'au musée des Arts et Métiers il y a un lama, tu le savais ?

EMNM said...

Hi Peter! my favourite the last one, 9

Studio at the Farm said...

#2 is definitely my favorite, Peter.

Bettina said...

I like them all - sorry, I can't decide.

Anonymous said...

No. 8

Starman said...

My favorite doesn't have a number. But all your photos are so good, it doesn't really matter which we chose/

richard Ewen said...

Number one shows the magnificent scale of the tower. The angle in number 2 with the street lamps would be nice if you panned away and got all the column in the frame. The reflected one in the store window, 4, would be a prize if you took it on a sunny day when the reflection would be stronger.

Jeanie said...

We're number 5! We're number 5! (But frankly, I could have voted for any number of them -- they all have their strengths and some are particularly spectacular!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I think that you have assembled a great selection here and the fact that there are varied opinions about favorites is excellent. Mine? I would have to say that on the first pass I selected #5 and #8, and think that there are others I could support as well.

Love this challenge...

Bises,
Genie

Vagabonde said...

This is a difficult choice. It all depends I think where you would place the illustration – for myself I like no. 4 to give a view of the column in a more imaginative way and no. 6 to show the details in relief.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

#2 looks very regal and simple, so I'd go with it!

:-)

Unknown said...

I think my favorite # 4 and # 8 photos.

Delphinium said...

Coucou, comme claude, je suis branchée très réverbères. Donc je vote pour la 5 et j'espère gagner ma branche de chocolat suisse!

Thérèse said...

Number 4 for me: with this one only we can tell what it is, where it is and learn more about it with your own words.

Catherine said...

Another very informative post with lovely photos - my vote? Number 5

Ruby said...

Excellent pictures. My vote is for #3. I also like the #1 the last photo and #9. Cheers, Ruby.

Denise Covey said...

I love all of them, but adore No 5. The history is fascinating.

Denise

Cezar and Léia said...

They are all stunning pictures!My vote is for the second one!
Léia

Owen said...

Can I vote for all of them ? Veni, vidi, voti...

Hope all is good with you Peter...

Simony said...

In this order: 2,7,8,9. If I had to put them in order of preference.
I like the unusual focus of number two putting the main subject in second place, giving us an idea of the surroundings. But I also like the photos of the details...
I loved the abstract view shown on pictures 4 and 9...
I really love ALL of them! You made it hard to choose!
Did I confuse you?

Unknown said...

Hi Peter, they're all great, but I like #9 best of all. Abstraction gets me every time! They're all beautiful shots, though!

M said...

What a fun task ... I chose 4 and 8 because they are very creative and provide a very different perspective of the column. Thank you for providing the great historic background --- how very interesting! Bon dimanche!

Dobbo said...

#5 all the way!

arabesque said...

can I say toutes les numeros?
haha! can be so fickle at times. ^0^
okay, i have a thing for lamps so my 1st choice was no,2 but when I saw no,5. the details lured me to it.
tnx for the info as well.
Vendome should be in my must visit list next time.

PeterParis said...

Appreciating all your kind comments:

The "winner" seems to be the number 4, followed by numbers 5 and 8. I guess that number 8 would be my own choice.

Lady Mondegreen's Secret Garden said...

Hi Peter,
Thankyou for your account of this column's busy history. Your lead photo has been taunting me from your thumbnail on my own sidebar. Taunting because on my one afternoon in Paris in December I stumbled past this column on my mad stride across town to see Owen's exhibition. I had no idea what I was seeing but knew that it must be significant, and I never got around to reading up on it. So I do appreciate this post very much. My favourite photo, because I am a lover of intricate detail, is No 5 with the lamps and the relief work.

Trotter said...

Come on, they are all excellent!! How do you want me to chose just one... ;)

Claudia said...

Sorry, lost count... Which photos won? I love them all :)

Elizabeth said...

Numbers 5 and 9!