Paris and Rodin

This was a perfect day.  I have dreamed of returning to Musee Rodin since my visit in 1987.  I loved it then and found it just as magical today. I did my audio guided tour of the gardens at the start, as the rain was just holding off.  The audio guide was great, I learned so much more about so many of the pieces, and that Rodin was rejected for entry to THE art school of the time, 3 times.

The Gates of Hell, with the Poet (later the Thinker) gazing down at the endless stream of tortured souls as they enter.

 

 

  

 

Opposite The Gates of Hell, view to The Thinker with Eiffel Tower in the background

 


I had a small statue of The Kiss for many years, Mal bought it for me after our 1987 visit. One day the kids were mucking about inside, threw something and broke it beyond repair. I cried and cried.
So lovely to see it again.it's always been one of my favourites.  Perhaps it was the one thing I remembered from art history :)  I find it astonishing that something so alive and full of emotion can be sculpted from a solid hard mass.  It was less romantic to find out Rodin did this work to capture the first kiss of lovers Francesca and Paolo, who were then immediately stabbed to death by Francesca's husband, also Paolo's brother.

 

 

I ended the day with a delicious Croque Monsieur close to home, and bought some champagne to sip from my bed while I rested my feet and knees.  

  

I had a small snack for dinner at a nearby tiny place and had a pretty early night.  I was seated at the bar, and this was the kitchen ... I could have tapped the lovely cooks on the shoulder as they worked.   

On my walk home