9.4.12

New sculptures in the Tuileries Gardens



Some three years ago, I made two posts, showing more or less all statues and sculptures you can find in the Tuileries Gardens. (I also made a post, almost five years ago, about the disappeared Tuileries Castle.)



On one of the sunny spring days we have recently enjoyed (these photos were taken March 26), I made a tour to the crowded Gardens, sat down for a while with a book, (fell asleep for a short moment)) … , but I discovered also at least two new sculptures, which did not appear in my previous posts. Some are exposed only for a couple of years and then go back to their “home”, in general a museum.

Here is one by Willem de Kooning (1904-97), called “Standing Figure”...


… and here is another one by Yayoi Kusama (1929- ), called “Flowers that Bloom at Night”.

I also discovered a biking lady with what looks like expensive Christian Louboutin shoes. 
In one of my recent posts about the Invalides, I showed a painting of Louis XIV wearing red heels. Some nice comments from fellow bloggers draw my attention to the fact that the right to wear red heels was restricted to nobility, a privilege that was lost with the Revolution. The fashion is said to have started when the (fashion-leading) brother of Louis XIV one night had been visiting some taverns around the Paris slaughter-house, came home too late to change properly before having to attend to the King's council ... and was observed having red heels... 
A very knowledgeable lady, living in Paraguay, Maria, also added that "When Thomas Jefferson came back from France his friends and fellow signers of the American Independence could not believe their eyes when they saw him for the first time. The still young and very handsome former Ambassador wore make up, was richly dressed in the latest style and his black patent leather shoes had RED heels!!! John Adams, always outspoken asked him how he dared dress like that in his own country of all places. Such spectacle was never seen before in that young Republic...On the other hand because they loved him they were relieved to see the former inconsolable widower looking like such a happy dandy...”

21 comments:

Trotter said...

Hi Peter! Hope you had a Happy Easter! Sorry for the absence, but things are ever more difficult here...

Another good reason to get back to Paris... I've plenty of them... ;)
Have a great week ahead!!!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Love that first shot - a slice of Paris life including a fellow stretched out in a green chair. The second shot is a beautiful perspective of the "order" in French gardens... all lined up.

I think that Kooning's sculpture will keep Dietman's L'Ami de personne company. I took many photos of the flower sculpture but did not know the artist. Merci!

Bises,
Genie

Amanda said...

Thank you for the story about "the red heels".

Amanda said...

I have a new computer and a new cell phone. I am in tech Hell right now. I thought I left a message. I love the story of "the red heels".

helen tilston said...

What an interesting post and the sculptures are uplifting.
I did know about the red heels however, the news on Jefferson is new and I thank you for sharing this

Helen

Thirtytwo degrees said...

Happy Easter Peter. I am so happy that you are back in Paris, shooting great scenes again! Cheers! Jan

SusuPetal said...

Glad Påsk, Peter!

I like those flowers by the Japanese artist. Unconventional, maybe a little harsh in that park, but everything that brings color to life, is accepted by me.

Ruth said...

I'm happy to see the latest inventory at the Tuileries. And I am fascinated by the heeled shoes on a bike, and the history of the red heels too!

Virginia said...

HA, the masses have descended on Tuilieries and the Champs Elysees I see. Not my favorite time to stroll Tuilieries but I guess "we" have to let the tourists have their time as well! :)

The newest sculpture would delight Eva and Davis as l'ami de personne is Eva's old friend. The flowers, well what can I say. I shot them with Richard Nahem and still have them in my stash to share one day. I suppose the kids like them.

And as for Thomas Jefferson, I'm still trying to envision him decked out in black patent shoes with
ROUGE heels! What a great story. Maria always has such wonderful information to add. I love her.

Now, get back to Tuileries with your book Peter and have a nice little nap.
V

Studio at the Farm said...

Hmmm .. I seem to have missed a few posts. Love the entry about the Metro.
As for the Tuileries, what a beautiful park. I do love the Kusama sculpture.
I wonder, too, if Benjamin Franklin came back from France with some make-up and a pair of red-heeled shoes???

Cezar and Léia said...

LOL clever eyes Peter, I think that lady wearing Christian Louboutin shoes misunderstood her agenda!
Beautiful sunny day there and your pictures are great!
Léia

Catherine said...

Lovely spring pictures - have been trying to imagine such beauty in Paris today through the wind and pouring rain!

Anonymous said...

Putting on make up was a very common practice among men in 18th century Paris high society: white powder for the face, rouge for the cheeks and lips, kohl pencil for a fake mole on the cheek etc...

As the most popular Ambassador at the court of Louis XVI, Jefferson was also very popular with the ladies of the nobility be them old or young...

Franklin was very popular with the ladies too. While in Paris he wrote an essay called "How to Choose A Mistress"

He should know, having as his girfriend a lady from the nobility with whom he had a great time...

Thank you for the kind words, Peter and Virginia!
Maria

Cergie said...

Bravo pour la photo du dessus avec le quadrige, la fontaine et les flâneurs. Trois choses à voir dans une photo aux gouttelettes (plus la vasque blanche)...
De regarder les dames te fait saisir de charmants détails....

claude said...

Les trois premières photos me conviennent bien, après ça se gâte, pour moi tout du moins. Je pense que ce n'est pas la peine que j'en exprime davantage.

Parisbreakfasts said...

The Kusama sculpture reminds me of Niki de Saint Phalle..
I wish I knew the Tuileries better.
I certainly know everything lined up beside it very well like Musee des arts decoratif or Angelina or Galienni.
I must make more of an effort-it's a very grand space.

Paris Paul said...

"Standing Figure"!? Looks like it should've been called "Rorschach Test"...

arabesque said...

don't know much about the heel's history, though interesting to know the king used to wore those. ^0^
and for a lady to wear that Louboutin heels while biking is a definite challenge. ^-^

Harriet said...

Great post. Especially love that first photo. Is that the Arc de Triumph du Carrousel?

Ruby said...

Beautiful shots!

Trotter said...

So many good reasons to get there...