Music & Art | A French Collection

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin – Rodin Museum

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin - Rodin Museum, Paris

The Thinker is a famous sculpture by French sculptor François Auguste René that is part of the collection of Rodin sculptures at the Rodin Museum ( Musée Rodin) in Paris.

The Rodin Museum is located in a classic 18th-century mansion called Hôtel Biron, which is nestled just behind Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement. The elegant, two-story hôtel particulier overlooks seven acres of manicured lawns, rose gardens, and sculptures by Rodin dotted amongst rows of perfectly-pruned trees.

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

Historical Paris - The Great Paris flood of 1910

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

See Paris as you've never seen the city before in our amazing collection of historical photos. In these 20 historical photos of Paris, we get a glimpse into how devastating the Great Paris flood of 1910 was, how some of the Metro was built, old forms of transport around the city and the stunning array of pavilions and structures built for the World Fair in 1889, including of course, the Eiffel Tower.

To finish off our gallery of amazing historical photos of Paris, there's a photo of a little girl cooling herself during a hot spell from an iconic Wallace fountain - it's super cute!

Pierre-Auguste Renoir – A French Impressionist Painter

Pierre-Auguste Renoir - The Boating Party

Pierre-Auguste Renoir - One of the Most Influential Impressionist Painters

In celebration of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's birthday I take a brief look at the man and a few of his most well known paintings and why he is loved so much. Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on 25 February 1841 in Limoges, the centre of porcelain production in France at the time, to a tailor.

Renoir moved to Paris as a young boy who later went on to earn money painting blinds and murals. He entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1862 and became associated with other painters such as Monet, Bazille and Sisley. The Beaux-Arts de Paris, or School of Fine Arts, is a French grande école whose primary mission is to provide high-level arts education and training and this is where many of Renoir's friendships with contemporary artists developed.

Renoir is loved for his style in portraying humans and their emotions which is captured by their movement and interaction with each other.

Édouard Manet – The French Modernist Painter

The Rue Mosnier with Flags - Édouard Manet 1878

Édouard Manet - One of France's Great Painters

The French Modernist Painter - It's been said that if you’re after some of the world’s best art, there’s really no better place to be than France. And while I don't want to say France is the only country with amazing art museums, it is true that the country is home to a wide variety of world-class museums. The Louvre, the Musée D’Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou are grand and well known but there are also many lesser-known museums and galleries to choose to visit.

Paris is an art lover's heaven and I feel you can never visit the city and its famous museums too many times, there are always new exhibitions and installations to surprise you. Visiting the ArtCurial art auction house regularly is a great way of seeing special artworks.

Santons of Provence: A French Tradition

Santons of Provence: A Christmas Tradition

Santons of Provence – Christmas is celebrated in a special way in Provence with little figurines called Santons.

They are a lovely French tradition. Santons are used to create a nativity scene (crèche) with the key religious figurines of Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus together with the people of the south of France.

The most popular Santons representing the people from southern France are the baker, butcher, shepherd, fisherman, wood cutter, washer-woman and vintner. Many of the trades are represented by the Santons and adding these folk to the nativity scene is what makes this Christmas tradition unique to Provence.

Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

Le Passe-Muraille Sculpture in Montmartre, Paris

Bronze man coming out of stone wall is the Le Passe-Muraille sculpture

Place Marcel Aymé is just off Rue Norvins in Montmartre, the 18th arrondissement of Paris, and it's where you'll will find the quirky bronze sculpture of Dutilleul. Dutilleul is the man who possessed super powers in Marcel Aymé's book Le Passe-Muraille (the Passer Through Walls).

Le Passe-Muraille Sculpture in Montmartre, Paris

As you've probably guessed, Dutilleul's super power was to be able to pass through walls. This is a cool sculpture and worth a look when in Montmartre. On one of my trips to this area, I spent a fun afternoon with Helene, who happily shared the local history and her insider knowledge on le Passe-Muraille as we walked around.

French Street Artist Invader – Everything You Want To Know

Flash Invader artwork in Montmartre, Paris

French Street Artist Invader - Everything You Want to Know

Invader is a French artist that's intriguing, clever and has secretly been placing his mosaic work of alien invaders all over Paris for the last 20 years.

"I define myself as an UFA, an Unidentified Free Artist. I chose Invader as my pseudonym and I always appear behind a mask. As such, I can visit my own exhibitions without any visitors knowing who I really am even if I stand a few steps away from them." - Invader

As you may know I love researching and exploring new places for my readers, especially historical, fun, and secret (sometimes even weird) places and facts on Paris. Today I thought I'd share what I know about the famous French street artist Invader, and where to find his art.

20 Inspiring Quotes About Paris

Paris is the subject of so many novels, films, articles, quotes and photos, that it can seem like everyone has an opinion on the City of Lights. I’ve collated 20 of the best and most interesting quotes on Paris that I think you’ll also enjoy.

You can’t escape the past in Paris, and yet what’s so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn’t seem to burden – Allen Ginsberg

Paris in the Fall — Pont Alexandre III, Paris

Annette Charlton

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin – Rodin Museum

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin - Rodin Museum, Paris

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

20 Amazing Historical Photos of Paris

Pierre-Auguste Renoir – A French Impressionist Painter

Pierre-Auguste Renoir - One of the Most Influential Impressionist Painters

Édouard Manet – The French Modernist Painter

Édouard Manet - One of France's Great Painters

Santons of Provence: A French Tradition

Santons of Provence: A Christmas Tradition

Le Passe-Muraille Sculpture in Montmartre, Paris

Le Passe-Muraille Sculpture in Montmartre, Paris

French Street Artist Invader – Everything You Want To Know

French Street Artist Invader - Everything You Want to Know

20 Inspiring Quotes About Paris

20 Inspiring Quotes About Paris

You can’t escape the past in Paris, and yet what’s so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn’t seem to burden – Allen Ginsberg

PRESS & MEDIA

Follow Us

GET OUR NEWSLETTERS

JOIN ME IN FRANCE ON INSTRAGRAM

afrenchcollection