Le Grand Chat de la rue

"the big cat of the street"

Guarding this restaurant window on le premier étage

is this realistic and muscular feline.

As you look up from the street you can feel his stare.

I wonder if he chose this spot for the poissons et fruits de mer 

(fish and seafood) featured on the restaurant menu.

"Here, kitty-kitty - nice kitty."

Vin et Marée

165, rue Saint Honoré

75001, Paris

Île aux Cignes - Statue of Liberty

Île aux Cignes

Statue of Liberty

This quarter scale replica of the original

was inaugurated on July 4, 1889.

It was given to the City of Paris by the

Parisian community in America to mark

the centennial of the French Revolution.

(Consider reading Liberty's Torch

for the whole story)

Statue of Liberty (1 of 3 in Paris)

Île aux Cignes

75015, Paris

L'expression

The expression is 

one of surprise?

Or perhaps suspicion?

Boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

Église de la Madeleine

This photo was taken only a few days 

after the terrorist attack in November 2015.

It seemed a good place to be.

Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

Place de la Madeleine

75008, Paris

Église de la Madeleine

Église de la Madeleine

Created in marble by Turin-born sculptor Carlo (Charles) Marochetti in 1841

for this historic church, the subject is the "Ascension of Mary Magdelene."

The photo shows the artist's remarkable detail 

in one of the angels

(Joyeux anniversaire, Nanette)

Église de la Madeleine

Place de la Madeleine

75008, Paris

 

Musée Rodin

Musée Rodin

"I choose a block of marble and 

chop off whatever I do not need."

Auguste Rodin, sculptor

b. November 12, 1840

d. November 17, 1917

Hôtel Biron

79, rue de Varenne

75007, Paris

 

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Built between 1903 and 1905 this steel bridge has two levels,

 the lower one for vehicles and pedestrians, 

and the upper level (the viaduct) supports Métro Line 6.

The iron sculpture framed by the yellow poplar leaves

is one of four on the main arches of the bridge.  

This one was designed by Jules-Felix Coutan and represents Labor.

This was my first visit to Pont de Bir-Hakeim,

and I will share more photos with you soon.

(Joyeux Anniversaire, Renée!)

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

entre 75016 et 75015, Paris

Un bol, un serpent, et un main

A bowl, a snake and a hand...

a beautifully detailed sculpture 

in the depths of Petit Palais

Petit Palais

ave Winston Churchill

75008, Paris

La Tour Eiffel, la Seine, et des Ponts

Paris at Night

The mighty bronze sculptures of Pont Alexandre III

gaze nightly at "the tower" as it lights up the evening sky.

I have stood on this same spot in all kinds of weather,

and I can close my eyes to be transported there in my imagination.

bon weekend

Pont Alexandre III

75007, Paris

Click here to see reflections around the world
James' Weekend Reflections

Un lion en automne

A Lion in Winter Autumn

Looking up at the sculpted balcony with its ironwork balustrade 

one sees the trellis of red and graceful curtains.  

Do not miss the guardian of it all, 

le lion.

Avenue d'Ilena

75016, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris - Saint Denis

Notre Dame

A small section of the statues of Notre Dame features

poor Saint Denis, a martred Bishop of the 3rd century,

 who carried his head through Paris after being decapitated.

This is a section over the left portal of Notre Dame.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Le Centaure

Le Centaure

This large bronze sculpture represents the mythical centaur 

with the body of a horse and the bust of a man.

It was created in 1985 by the French artist César Baldaccini 

(called simply César) and sits in the small place Michel Debré 

at the intersection of Rue du Cherche-Midi and Rue de Sèvres.  

Interestingly, the artist placed his face 

as the head of this strange sculpture

Le Centaure

Place Michel Debré

Rue du Cherche-Midi et Rue de Sèvres

75006, Paris

Palais Royal - ça me manque

The Fountains of Pol Bury

This captivating sculpture with motion, water, and reflection 

has been missing since at least 2011.

The area has been under renovation, 

but will this be reinstalled or will it go the way 

of many of the city's modern art installations...

disappearing forever.

Fountains of Pol Bury

Gallery d'Orléans, Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Vingt-Cinq

Number Twenty-Five

I think that if I lived here I would not give an address for visitors 

but would say instead, "Sous la bouche ouverte du lion!"

"Under the open mouth of the lion!"

25, rue Charlemagne

75004, Paris

Caryatid - la fleuriste

Caryatid

This sculpture on the premier étage appears to be arranging the garland of flowers.  

Her companion on the other side of the balcony is striking a slightly different pose.

The building was constructed in 1909 by Adolphe Cherioux 

and the two caryatids by sculptor E. Chenevière.

Many of the buildings will have a date and some additional information.  

You just have to look for that detail.

Caryatids

39, rue Saint-Sabin

75011 Paris

Square du Ranelagh - Jean de la Fontaine

The poet Jean de la Fontaine spent almost three decades

writing his version of 243 fables. 

This statue in Square du Ranelagh shows him regardant à ses pieds

le Corbeau et le Renard, one of his revered fables.

Square du Ranelagh

Métro La Muette

75016 Paris

Musée Rodin - le jardin du Hôtel Biron

Musée Rodin

This verdant scene is in the garden of Hôtel Biron, 

the site of Musée Rodin, and sits in the shadow of Les Invalides.

This quiet place in Paris is worth a visit 

to see the sculptures of Rodin 

as well as some of Camille Claudel.  

The garden includes some of Rodin's most recognizable 

works including The Thinker and The Gates of Hell.

Musée Rodin - Hôtel Biron

79, rue de Varenne

75007, Paris

Fêtes des Mères

Joyeux Fêtes des Mères

Wishing mothers around the world a joyous Mother's Day 

as we celebrate in the United States on the second Sunday in May.  

If you want to celebrate twice, 

be sure to mark the last Sunday in May (25th) 

for the traditional French celebration of mothers.  

The tradition calls for flowers and perhaps a poem, 

catering to the whims of "maman," 

and culminating the day with a large meal for the whole family, bien sûr.

The dessert, so I am told, is a cake that resembles a bunch of flowers.

bon dimanche

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

 

 

Cour Marly - Musée du Louvre

Horses of Marly

The monumental statuary displayed here was carved for the park of the Château de Marly. Most of the works were commissioned by Louis XIV at the end of his reign. However, the courtyard is dominated by Guillaume Coustou's celebrated Horses of Marly, completed in 1745 under Louis XV.

Coustou sculpted these from a single monolithic block of Carrara marble - stunning.  These are the originals (moved to the Louvre in 1984) and there are copies at Place de la Concorde and at Marly.

(joyeux anniversaire, Countess)

Cour Marly, Richelieu Wing

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

 

 

Paris rouge - Macéo

 

 

 

Macéo

 

 

 

This restaurant has a quiet back entrance

framed in red with cherubs on either side of the doorway. 

 

 

Perhaps a little worse for wear,

the sculptures still make a dramatic presence

on the quiet street behind Palais Royal.

 

 

 

 

Macéo

15, rue des Petits Champs

75002, Paris