Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Rudolph Nureyev



Russian Orthodox Cemetery
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois


The final resting place of the famed dancer and choreographer resembles a "traveling trunk" draped with a fringed kilim rug.  The rug is actually crafted with bronze fringe and small glass mosaics, an homage to Nureyev's Bashkir heritage.  Click here to see the close-up details of the rug's artistry in my previous post.


It is worth the short train ride to the southern suburbs (only 14.6 miles from the center of Paris) to see this lovely and unusual cemetery.



Rudolph Nureyev (1938-1993)
Russian Orthodox Cemetery
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

I am joining Julie's Taphophile Tragics.
Click here to see the other cemetery posts

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23 comments:

  1. Siddhartha JoshiNovember 7, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    The rug is beautiful..

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  2. KatieNovember 7, 2012 at 2:36 AM

    Great photo of a gorgeous mosaic! I'll definitely have to visit this cemetery the next time I'm in Paris.

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  3. JoeNovember 7, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    My goodness. Thanks for sharing and explaining this one Genie. It looks so real. I had no idea it was a solid structure until I read your notes. I thought it was a new coffin awaiting burial. This would be an ideal post for Julie's Taphophile Tragics Meme.

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  4. s.cNovember 7, 2012 at 6:42 AM

    That really is a special grave. Somebody must have loved him very deeply indeed.Thanks for showing us Genie

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  5. Jane and Lance HattattNovember 7, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    Hello Genie:
    At the risk of sounding morbid, we have to say that we do like looking at cemeteries and the graves of the famous and not so famous.

    Nureyev's grave is extraordinary and the quality of the craftsmanship is truly stunning. Most definitely, this would be worth the effort to visit and we shall note it down for our to-do-list!

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  6. biebkriebelsNovember 7, 2012 at 7:08 AM

    What a beautiful grave!

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  7. Janey and Co.November 7, 2012 at 7:41 AM

    I agree with Jane and Lance. I find cemeteries very interesting....and would to see this grave!

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  8. MNovember 7, 2012 at 9:27 AM

    The colors in this photo are wonderful! The potted plants on the other graves pick up the mosaic's colors making the entire scene seem coordinated! Lovely!

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  9. PolarisNovember 7, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    Sí, ¡qué belleza!...y ahora directo al Cielo

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  10. GringoNovember 7, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    Great shot, so colourful, as it should be....Have a good week Genie!

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  11. Sylvia KNovember 7, 2012 at 12:24 PM

    That is amazing, Genie, so beautiful and different!! A terrific capture as always! Hope your week is going well!!

    Hugs
    Sylvia

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  12. DarylNovember 7, 2012 at 12:32 PM

    gorgeous ... makes me want to see these things for myself ... already ...

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  13. KristieNovember 7, 2012 at 1:36 PM

    My word! I thought it was real...I would have never guessed it wasn't! It's beautiful. :) Still rubbing my eyes in amazement.

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  14. StarmanNovember 7, 2012 at 2:17 PM

    You guys certainly spend an excessive amount of time in cemeteries. Don't you think we'll all be there soon enough?

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  15. VreniNovember 7, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    Wow, a very special grave!

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  16. AlexaNovember 7, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    Wonder if Nureyev knew before he died that his grave would be so beautiful. I have to think he would be pleased with this!

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  17. RandyNovember 7, 2012 at 10:35 PM

    Wow, talk about going in style.

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  18. Genie -- Paris and BeyondNovember 8, 2012 at 12:18 AM

    Joe, thank you for the suggestion and I have followed through.

    Alexa, Nureyev died on St. Barth's and his funeral was a spectacle in Paris at Palais Garnier. The tomb was not constructed until some years after his death so I do not think that he ever envisioned something quite so special. The trunk and the rug held significance in his early life.

    He did request to be buried here in the Russian Orthodox Cemetery, a quiet cemetery barely noticed by the locals in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois. I think that he would have been delighted with this unique tribute.

    Jane and Lance, I have always sought out cemeteries as they tell much about the history and culture of an area. I am glad that you like this one.

    To all, the mosaics and the gentle folds of the rug will make you blink your eyes to believe what you are seeing.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  19. JackNovember 8, 2012 at 10:53 PM

    Genie, thanks for visiting this unique grave and sharing it with us. It is dazzling. And the details from last November are well worth your viewers' time to visit or revisit.

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  20. SeaThreePeeONovember 9, 2012 at 2:09 AM

    Wow what an amazingly beautiful monument.


    I run a weekly cemetery link on Sundays up over at Beneath Thy Feet

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  21. This is BelgiumNovember 10, 2012 at 6:16 AM

    I had no idea !

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  22. polisha-uaNovember 20, 2012 at 4:15 PM

    In Paris all very beautifully, even the graves...

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  23. IrinaNovember 28, 2012 at 1:54 AM

    Actually, he died in Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours hospital in Levallois-Perret, Paris.
    Noureev (this is how it's spelled on his grave and is more accurate with Russian pronunciation I think) ethnically was a Bashkir-Tatar born in Soviet Union. He was a collector of oriental carpets and antique fabric.
    You can find out more about Noureev on this site http://www.nureyev.org/

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Merci for your comments!