#Coron Galeri

[empiredesimparte]

Official portrait of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Charlotte of the French, on the occasion of the coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Napoleon V

The photograph was taken in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, by la Maison de l'Empereur. Empress Charlotte wears the ribbon of the Order of the Legion of Honor, and the ruby set of Marie-Louise, wife of Emperor Napoleon I. It was made by Nitot, founder of Chaumet, in the early 19th century.

⚜ Traduction française

Portrait officiel de Sa Majesté Impériale, l'Impératrice Charlotte des Français, à l'occasion du couronnement de Sa Majesté Impériale, l'Empereur Napoléon V.

La photographie a été réalisée dans la galerie des glaces à Versailles, par la Maison de l'Empereur. L'Impératrice porte le ruban de l'ordre de la légion d'honneur, et la parure de rubis de Marie-Louise, l'épouse de l'Empereur Napoléon Ier. Elle est réalisée par Nitot, fondateur de la maison Chaumet, au début du XIXe siècle.

[transparentgentlemenmarker]

King Charles' first official portrait since his coronation has been vandalised by an animal rights group. June 11 2024

Le portrait officiel de Charles III dégradé par des militants animalistes Réalisé le mois dernier par l’artiste britannique Jonathan Yeo, ce portrait se trouve dans une galerie à Londres.

Ce 11 juin 2024 à l’instar de militants écologiques qui ciblent des œuvres d’art, le portrait officiel du roi Charles III a été vandalisé par des militants animalistes d’Animal Rising qui ont mené cette action, pour protester contre la Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Cette organisation soutenue par le monarque britannique lutte pour le bien-être animal mais est accusée par Animal Rising de cruauté. Deux militants, filmés par leur organisation, ont donc fait irruption dans la galerie Philip Mould à Londres, où le portrait, dévoilé le mois dernier, est exposé pour le moment. Et ils ont collé la tête du personnage Wallace, de la série animée Wallace et Gromit, sur celle du roi, avec un message dans une bulle de bande dessinée : « Pas de fromage Gromit (son chien). Regarde tous ces traitements cruels qui ont lieu dans les fermes de la RSPCA ! » (« No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms ! »)

Portrait du roi Charles III

[robertlaskarzewski]

Blog Twenty-Seven

Monday, I visited Westminster Abbey, the church in which British royalty are coronated (along with other important royal events, I assume. It was quite an impressive church but it was extremely crowded, furthermore my visit was made worse slightly when someone threw up inside the sacred building. The sheer number of placards made for those deceased is immense – in some areas statues and stones dedicated to famous dead people are crowding one another out. Afterwards, I went to Piccadilly Circus to look around the shops – Barbour and Waterstones in particular (I didn’t get anything besides a tea from Waterstones). Later on in the day, I visited the Royal Mews where royal horse carriages are kept (along with the horses that draw the carriages).

On Tuesday, the fourth of July, I would go to Harrods department store – an English equivalent of the Galeries Lafayette but even more expensive. I didn’t care for the store too much as the building had quite low ceilings in some areas, giving an unpleasant crowded sensation.

Wednesday, I would return back “home” to Cergy. My train back went very smoothly, and I got to try an English food staple, the sausage roll.

Thursday, I would spend a small part of the day in Paris, but I got bored very quickly so I went back to Cergy.

Friday, I visited the city of Vincennes, a city located right on the southern border of Paris. At one time, Vincennes (more specifically the Chateau of Vincennes) had been home to high French nobility and royalty but not since the time of the Hundred Years’ War. Nowadays, it seems to me a nice escape from the bustle of Paris. The city is nice and clean, however the lack of greenery in the city center was a little off putting to me.

On Saturday, I visited the city of Mélun, a city located south-east of Paris. Although it isn’t located incredibly far from Paris, it took me about 2 and a half hours to get there by train. There isn’t much to be seen or done in Mélun, but my goal was simply to visit a new department (departments are similar to states in the US but even smaller, like something between the size of a county and a state). After arriving, I decided to just walk around the city to see what was going on and what there was to do (spoiler: not much). The only things of interest in the city were the Musée de Gendarmerie (museum of police) and an old clocktower.

Sunday, I did basically nothing – just staying in Cergy and doing random errands.

On Monday, I headed into Paris to go and look at the sales going on in the big malls (a mid-summer sale, I suppose). I didn’t find anything close to my price range so I decided to head back.

[bslack12]

End of Week 1 : Louvre, Sainte Chapelle, and Comédie-Française

The first week in France ended with a bang! A detailed description of the weekend is below, but I'll begin with my weeklong thoughts. It has been one of the best times of my life acclimating to Paris and having the city slowly become like a home. Despite feeling like I've done so much and, at the same time, so little, I still have to remind myself of how blessed I am to have the opportunity for such an extended visit to the city. While I had never visited, I have always had a special place for the city and France as a whole and my experiences thus far have only widened the gap between any other place in the world. Having to pick one singular experience as a favorite is too hard to do, but on a macro-level, my favorite part has been proving to myself the levels of ability that I have to take care of myself and survive in a wildly new environment, all while seeing some of the best sights in the world and learning so much along the way. Using another language, managing my own travel, planning a day trip fully independent, maneuvering solo through one of the largest cities in the world, figuring out a new food climate, and trying new things are all aspects that feel so rewarding and that I know will shape me as I move into my future. However, I would have to say my only two negatives thus far are the difficulties with which eating is and the incessant smoking by French people. I'll start with the latter because it is the easiest: the smell gives me a headache and it is quite annoying to have it blow in your face, and it is everywhere here. The former, on the other hand, is a little bit more complicated because it seems like a contradiction to reality. There is quite literally food on every corner in Paris. However, price aside, the ordeal of eating in at a café or restaurant is such an ordeal that is countercultural to what I'm used to that is gives me great anxiety. For how much I prefer French society and life to my American ways, as someone who is always on a mission to do the most in a day, I quite enjoy the efficiency with which food in the US operates in. It is so hard to eat on my terms here without seeming like a rude American that I am still adjusting and get over. Other than those minor inconveniences, I am quite happy in Paris. The history of everything around me ceases to amaze and the European attitude is one that I enjoy very much. If one week felt like a lifetime, I can not wait for what the next two have in store.

On Friday, I enjoyed a full day at the Louvre before enjoying a wonderful violin concert at the magnificent Sainte Chapelle. The day started out with a great tour of the museum's great pieces. It was a great introduction to the ginormous collection and while the Mona Lisa was great, I especially enjoyed our time in the rooms dedicated to Neo-Classicism and Romanticism, as these are my favorite periods of art and included pieces that I had studied in a previous art class. Liberty Leading the People, The Coronation of Napoleon, and Raft of the Medusa were a great trio to get to see in person, as well as get insightful information from Dr. Jones. After the group portion at the Louvre concluded, I was resolved to stay as long as I could, so after a quick sandwich from a museum cafe, I continued my journey where we concluded, spending more time in my favorite rooms, soaking in the aforementioned work, as well as looking around at other pieces. I then began my quest around the rest of the former palace, already concluding that I could not do everything, and just wondering to wherever I ended up. After a wonderful stop in the Galerie d'Apollon with its gilded interior that was not topped by any other room's interior design, I spent a large amount of time in the antiquities section, marveling at Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Near-Eastern pieces, highlighted from the friezes from the palace of Darius I. I then sojourned to the Grand Gallery, determined to walk the entire length of the giant hall on each side. To conclude, I made one of the best decisions of the trip and waited in the Mona Lisa line for one final glance at the lauded image. However, I would not be distracted by the quest for a perfect photo; instead, I would keep my phone away and simply take in the art for what it was, never mind the chaos of the surrounding crowd. After nearly 6 hours in the museum, I felt liked I hadn't even cracked the surface, but I was satiated with the time that I had spent, perusing at my own pace and my own desire.

I then had to settle for a quick dinner at McDonalds (a decision I am content with given the time that I spent at the Louvre) before making my way down to L'Île de la Cité for a concert inside the glorious chapelle haute inside the 13th century church at Sainte Chapelle. Unfortunately, I was enjoying my stroll along the Seine too much, and underestimated the distance from the Louvre, leaving me one minute late to our arrival time. Nevertheless, we queued along the façade and I rather enjoyed the slow wind into the church, giving the opportunity to take in the sights. Once inside, it was a absolutely beautiful sight to behold. Again, the French capitalized on a grand royal color scheme with blue stain-glass windows contrasted with the golden decoration of the hall. The concert, a violin soloist playing Bach selections, added to the amazing ambiance that I was witnessing. Despite the heat, it was an almost heavenly atmosphere to just sit and listen and take in everything, following the notes and discovering the many intricacies of the building. I ended up imagining these wonderful scenarios with the people that used the church and following along to the story of the music. After a long, but filling day, I turned in early, as I had a 5am alarm for my Saturday day trip (to be detailed in its own post).

Picking back up on Sunday, I, exhausted from the previous day, slept in for the first time since arriving, enjoying a lazy morning before picking up a great lunch breakfast at the MyAuchon down the street. I found two pieces of chicken (thigh+leg combined) and potatoes for only 4 Euro and it was one of the best meals that I have had in France. However, the highlight of the day was an amazing performance of L'Avare at La Comédie-Française. It was nice to seen the performance with a lot of background, as despite my extensive (quite small) French knowledge, the fast delivery of most scenes left me picking up words and small phrases. However, despite the language barrier, it was still very enjoyable, and the humor was still quite present. I also noticed how elaborate human communication is and how it transcends mere words. Even without a knowledge of what was happening, the acting taking place was such that I would know when to laugh and that I would be able to pick up on the relationships. Furthermore, the language of performance was interesting to observe, as, for example, during the applause, there is no way to determine anything about language of origin, but severe reverence can be detected through the mere act of clapping alone. All in all, it was an immaculate to put a bow on the first of three weeks in Paris.

[lovelivingmydreams]

Remus was rather pleased with his collection. There would be nowhere to hide for his brother and their brooding friend at his coronation.

"There better not be anything m-rated under those covers."

Remus'eyes sparkled as he faced the purple cloaked side.

"Why Virgin. You'll just have to wait and see," he smirked.

"How did you like Roman's little tour so far?" he asked curiously before Virgil could fret too much.

The anxious man shrugged casually. "The art looks good a bit overly dramatic maybe, but decent."

Roman rolled his eyes. "Why such high praise. Careful you just might make me blush."

Virgil chuckled. "Yeah right. Like you could go flustered over a few compliments," he teased.

"I might!" Roman protested.

"Ro, bro. My other half. Neither of us are capable of anything that could be considered shy, bashful, modest..."

"I get it! I'm pride and ego, you are unfiltered and unapologetic... everything. Blushing and such is not part of who we are... come to think of it..." Roman looked over at Virgil with a grin. "Emberasment, modesty, growing flustered would be you and Patton wouldn't it?" Roman teased.

Virgil crossed his arms and turns to the painting ignoring the comment resolutely.

"Are we going to look at some fan works or not? I have seen enough artistic interpretations of our games of make belief and mischief making. And that's not even mentioning the ones after we went downstairs," Virgil ranted, stubbornly looking away. "What's up with those creepy forest scenes anyway?" he snapped finally looking at Roman who shrugged as he made his way to the fan works. "I'm not stupid. I could sense you and Remus guarding the border... the paintings were my way of thanking you. I wasn't sure if you'd get in trouble if I thanked you face to face."

Virgil and Remus glanced at each other. They... weren't sure either. Janus might've gotten angry with them for getting distracted. They'd never mentioned their guards at the border for a reason. Whenever there was a monster that gave their defences trouble they just went off into the imagination. Janus never questioned them disappearing for a while. Remus could vanish for days. And Virgil sometimes needed go sulk for a bit.

Virgil cleared his troath awkwardly. "So um... the Fanders come up with something fun?" It was a very obvious change of subject but it worked. Roman gushed over their winged forms, hybrid forms superheroes, and just artwork made around their lines.

Remus and Virgil listened to Roman praise the Fanders with content smiles, Mel and Percy sitting by their person's legs wagging their tails contently.

Suddenly Virgil turns around and draws his sword, Percy stands at attention and starts growling. Dante joins at his captains side, the knights standing between the royals and the stairs.

"Someone is comming," Virgil informed the others and just then the doors opened.

"Prince Roman?" A frantic voice called out. As one Virgil and Dante relaxed and put away their swords making Percy relax as well.

Roman sighed as he walked past the knights towards the stairs.

"Up here Peter!" He called down as he led the group back to the ground floor.

"Thank the heavens! They await you in the salon Milord." Peter, a young man in a herald's uniform informed him.

Roman nodded in aknowledgment as he let out a sigh.

"I suppose we should meet with them sooner rather than later. We'll be on our way. Thank you Peter." The man bowed and left as Roman turned towards his company with an apologetic smile as he kept heading towards the exit.

"We'll have to meet with a few ministers and nobility before we continue. Never fear it won't take long. And Virgil be assured, they'll love you. Just call me a morron when the opportunity presents itself and you will be good."

"Every time or just the first? Because..."

"Oh hush you," Roman cut Virgil off with a playful smirk as they disappeared trough the open doors. "Archie here boy!"

Remus saw Archie sprint past him and trough the doors through which everyone else had already left.

Seeing his opportunity he rushed to the tapestry and looked behind.

It was a descending hallway covered in paintings. Each covered with a black curtain. Remus knew with his whole being that the hallway led to a galery underneath the one he was standing in.

And if he wanted to see what was on the portraits he'd have time for one quick peak. Archie would soon realize he was missing one royal pain and he'd come to defend his territory.

There were two portraits within reach. A portrait and a scenery if Remus' gues was right.

Portrait? Scenery? Let sleeping dogs lie?

Hurry

[crimsonblackrose]

One of the first things that I learned when I picked up all my passes at the Big Bus information office was that the Louvre required a reservation. The museum is always busy so making a reservation online is highly suggested. For general admission or special exhibits check here. Since I had a museum pass I picked a time slot and filled out the forms here. Because I was so tired rather than make my reservation at 9am like I had planned I made it for 9:30am. I didn’t have any difficulty getting the date or time I wanted, which is lucky. I also was in Paris during the off season. I was sent an e-mail with the information for my pass and then I screenshot it so that I could show it to the guards when I arrived. I highly suggest doing this just to make your life easier. You enter via the glass pyramid.

My plan for my second full day in Paris included cramming three museums into one day. So I had a goal of just seeing the highlights in the Louvre. Anything else I managed to see would be a bonus. The main goal was to, of course, find the Mona Lisa.  But first, because I’d gotten such a late start and then felt rushed to be at the Louvre exactly at 9:30 so I wouldn’t miss my spot I hadn’t eaten. So within the Louvre I popped into a cafe right before going through with my museum pass and quickly ate a brioches suisses which was absolutely delightful. Brioches suisses is a french bread (brioche) with chocolate chips and vanilla custard in the middle. There wasn’t any seating within the cafe but there was some seating outside of it under a pillar with tables every couple of feet. So I sat there to eat my breakfast before going through with my museum pass to enter the actual Louvre. I felt the same sort of rush that I felt when trying to get into Harry Potter at USJ the first time.

While some highlights are included on the map so you can easily make a goal of what to see, others are not. On my way to find the Mona Lisa I ran into a couple famous statues.

First was the Venus de Milo or Aphrodite from 100 BC which is located in the Sully wing on the ground floor in the Parthenon room (room 346).

Then in one of the stair cases on my way to the Mona Lisa I found the Winged Victory of Samothrace which is thought to be from 190 BC and is located in the Denon Wing on the ground floor in the staircase (room 703).

If you’re lost and looking for it just ask because the “gallery” it’s in is the Winged Victory of Samothrace stairwell. 

Mona Lisa is an Italian painting also known as Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo by Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was located in the Denon wing on the first floor in the Mona Lisa Room (room 711) Please note that sometimes it moves.

You don’t get much time with the Mona Lisa. It’s probably one of the most popular paintings in the Louvre, let alone maybe THE most popular part of the Louvre in general. To deal with crowds they’ve created a line with two entrances, you can either go up to the left or you can go up to the right and then security will give you a couple minutes to take a few photos before sending you on your way. While the rest of the Louvre is set up so you can sit and take in the paintings and sculptures due to the large amount of people who want to see Mona Lisa it is not possible. In the grand scheme of things when I visited it probably wasn’t that busy. The line didn’t spill out past at least half way through the winding ropes they’d made for the queue.

The Louvre actually doesn’t insure the Mona Lisa. And no one knows how much it’s worth. It’s one of the world’s most famous paintings and instead the Louvre puts it’s money towards protection for it. The Mona Lisa has been stolen, someone’s tried to graffiti it and someone else has tried to throw a rock at it. Security seems to be a better idea then insuring it anyway.

Because I was in the area, an area of vast paintings I decided to stop and taken in July 28. Liberty Leading the People a painting I remember seeing often in my high school French classes.  the painting is by Eugène Delacroix and is located in the department of paintings near Mona Lisa. No matter how many times I saw it in my French book or online I never realized just how massive of a painting it was.

After checking out a couple other giant paintings in the area I stopped at the in-Louvre cafe for a special Louvre tea called thé du Louvre Côté Cour: Courtyard tea. The little pouch the tea came in was quite pretty and the area around The Café Mollien was beautiful.

If you’re there I highly suggest trying to get a window seat. They’re the most popular and even though the cafe wasn’t busy all of those seats were taken when I visited. They have a stunning view and during the summer the terrace is open so you can enjoy your drink or snacks outside while enjoying the view of Cour Napoléon and the garden.

After a nice tea break I went off in search of more art. My main goals were to see The Coronation of Napoleon , Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, and The Lamassu. 

The Coronation of Napoleon, also known as The Coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I and the Crowning of the Empress Joséphine in Notre-Dame Cathedral on December 2, 1804 was quite easy to find. It was painted by Jacques-Louis David and is located in the Denon Wing on the first floor in Daru, room 702.

The painting was mentioned on the tour of Versailles, about how the painting was requested done by Napoleon with some subtle changes. Some things including his mother who refused to attend being painted in the background. It shows Napoleon crowning his wife as Empress after being crowned himself.

The Lamassu was also quite easy to find though a bit further away. They’re located in the Richelieu wing on the ground floor in the Mesopotamia, Assyria Khorsabad section in room 229.

The Lamassu  are protective genies that guard entrances in Dur Sharrukin which is now in modern day Khorsabad, northern Iraq. These creatures are part man, part bird and part bull and known as shedu or lamassu.

Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss  however I had an awful time trying to find. The reason why is because the museum is broken up into three main wings. The Richelieu, Sully, and Denon. I had gone down to the ground floor on the Richelieu side and thought I was crossing through Sully and into Denon, but in reality what I was doing was walking in circles around a statue courtyard in the 200’s rooms of the Richelieu. It took me awhile to figure it out. Too long. Embarrassingly too long. I didn’t realize the grey space in the center of Richelieu map was a courtyard. I thought it was the main one with the pyramid. And I couldn’t figure out how to cross over. It was very frustrating. I’ve circled on the map of the ground floor below the area in which I kept walking in circles.

Eventually I asked security for directions and they told me I had to leave and re-enter. Apparently you can do that, at least twice. So I popped out, went back into the main lobby, scanned for the Denon wing and went back in.

I think in other areas and on other floors it’s easy to travel between the three wings, but for some reason when I got down to the ground floor I had an awful time of it. But I did eventually find Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss which is located in the Denon wing on the ground floor in the Michelangelo gallery in room 403.

I saw a lot of other really cool things as I rushed around. I’ll make sure to list the wing, level, and room number for each of them if you click on the image or below it.

Daphnis et Chloé by François Gérard Denon Wing 1st floor Mollien room 700

I think the Louvre is massive. The way you’re suppose to enjoy art is to sit with it and take it in, but I think because of the Louvre if there’s a lot you want to see in a short period of time it makes it difficult. I think because I was also trying to run around on my Museum pass before it expired I felt extra pressure to rush, which isn’t the way you’re suppose to enjoy a museum let alone art. If you have more time I think it’ll be better.

My favorite part of the museum was really seeing other people enjoying it. The amount of artists I saw camped out in the Louvre sketching the sculptures just instilled something warm and fuzzy in me. I wanted to grab a notebook and join them, like I did in my high school art trips. But I just felt like there was no time.

Crown of Louis XV: Denon wing, 1st floor Galerie d’Apollon Room 705

The Louvre is open from Wednesday through Monday. They are closed on Tuesdays, January 1st, May 1st and December 25th. On Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays they are open from 9am until 6pm. On Wednesdays and Fridays they are open from 9am until 9:45pm. Double check online that they are open and their hours before you go. When I went the strikes were happening so they warned that some rooms/galleries might be closed and that the museum might close early. It’s considered fastest to book your tickets online ahead of time and to arrive in the morning.

Hercules, Dejanira and the Centaur Nessus Richelieu wing 1st floor Rotonde Jean Boulogne Room 526

Grand sphinx Sully wing Lower ground floor Crypt of the Sphinx Room 338

The Athena of Velletri

Attached to the Louvre is also a mall like area called Carrousel du Louvre. There’s a food court here with a McDonalds and various other restaurants as well as shopping. I grabbed a late lunch here, debating between different things because all I needed/wanted to do was find a corner to sit in and charge my wifi buddy because it had died suddenly. (The fuse at my hotel had blown for all my outlets so nothing had charged, I didn’t realize it until that night) I wandered around the food court trying to decide what I should get. I felt like I had to get French food, even though there were other options and it had a long line. The McDonalds had more available seating and less of a wait and while McDonalds tends to be better in any country outside of the U.S. it felt like a bad choice for my limited amount of time in France. I hadn’t even scratched the surface of my dream food list.

quiche lorraine set 13.60 euro

So I got in line, looked at what they had and ordered a quiche lorraine. It came with a salad that I didn’t particularly want but couldn’t turn down because it was a set. It only came with one type of dressing, an oil and balsamic dressing that needed to be shaken up. They took it off the bar and popped my quiche back into an oven to reheat. During my trip I had two quiche lorraines, both had to be reheated and came inexplicably with a side salad with the same oil and balsamic dressing. This was the better of the two.

The Carrousel du Louvre is open Wednesday through Monday from 10am until 8pm. On Tuesdays they are open from 11am until 7pm.

“Artemis with a Doe” Sully wing Ground floor Salle des Caryatides Room 348

Hercules Wrestling Achelous Room 105, Richelieu wing

galerie d’apollon

    The Louvre One of the first things that I learned when I picked up all my passes at the Big Bus information office was that the Louvre required a reservation.

[royvelasco]

The Great Palawan Experience: My Not-That-Great Coron Experience #Day2

As it seems like everything is going perfect, it’s not. My second day in Coron was actually quite a disappointment.

Or maybe I’m just exaggerating. Let me just say that my second day didn’t turn out as it’s supposed to be.

Kayangan Lake, Hidden Lagoon, Siete Picados, and CYC Beach are just some of the top destinations here but unfortunately I was not able to experience any of them. :( The tour that I was supposed to be in got cancelled since some backed out leaving the group with only two joiners. For only Php650 per person, this tour is definitely a great score. Majority of the tours in Coron are priced at least Php1k per head thus making the one from Coron Galeri already a deal. So maybe that’s what you get if you go with the cheapest one. It can definitely make or break your travel. You cannot blame me, I was backpacking and I need to make the most out of my budget.

That day was my only full day in Coron so there’s no way to reschedule my island hopping tour. It’s already too late in the morning as well to scout for other travel agencies. Good thing with Coron Galeri, they offered us two other tours to choose from. Since I didn’t intend to leave the place without seeing its majestic islands, I went with their Tour G, a Calumbuyan Is. Eco-Tour originally priced at Php990. We had quite a confrontation though with the management due to our disappointment eventually allowing us to still pay the same amount we agreed on from the original tour.

If you think that the series of unfortunate events stopped there, you’re wrong. Though the tour took place, we were safe and sound and seemed to have fun; it turned out to be a waste of time and money at least on my own perspective. I didn’t know that this Tour G is more on snorkeling sites. I didn’t have any snorkeling gears with me and I was too much occupied and stressed out to think that I should rent out one when we were still on land.

Tip: It’s a must to have a snorkeling gear in Coron! Even if you’re just up for beach bumming, you wouldn’t resist the beauty underneath.

I went out to the water on our first destination which is the Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck. I was trying to get a glimpse of the site through my Go Pro but it’s a total failure. I couldn’t see it with my own eyes either as I was wearing my contact lenses that time. I decided to go back to the boat as I looked dumb floating on the water while seeing others amazed with what’s beneath them. LOL!

This is the best shot I could take of the shipwreck from my Go Pro Hero 4. :(

Second site we visited was the Coral Garden. Obviously, one needs to snorkel to appreciate this. My new friend from Israel said that it’s not that amazing anyway so somehow it lessened my distress. Haha!

After almost 30 minutes, we were back on the boat for our last destination, the Calumbuyan Island. This was where we had our lunch as well. Finally, a site that doesn’t require snorkeling! Well actually you still can, on its waters as it looked very pristine and clear.

We had a sumptuous lunch which was already included on the package and the group had a chance to talk with each other by that time. 

I was able to roam around the island as well taking limitless shots of myself and everything around me. This was the only destination I think on the entire tour that I had pure fun.

It was around 3PM when we started boarding the boat back to Coron Town. It was quite a long trip back making us reach the port by 5PM. Though that day certainly disappointed me and perhaps ruined my vacation in general, the group seemed to have fun. Since I was indeed time-constraint, I was really anticipating on the Coron Island Ultimate Tour that has some of the top island destinations. I am now just thinking that there would still be next time and I’ll definitely do them all.

To make my day worse, the fast craft to El Nido for the next day has already been sold out. I know that seats run fast so easily for this fast craft that’s why I made a reservation with my hostel beforehand. Right when I came back from island hopping, the hostel staff told me the bad news. As per her, the trip that day was cancelled making all reservations be moved on the next day. I’m not sure though if it’s true. I left with no option but to go with the slow boat and endure a 7-hour travel. (Click HERE to read on my experience.)

To add on to the devastation, two foreign tourists were said to have been drowned in Kayangan Lake a day before making the site closed to public for a certain period. (Read on the news HERE.)

Even though this day was a bummer, I am still thankful that I am able to do trips like this. Despite of the frustrations and tragedies, I still ended the day with a positive note (while doing laundry. LOL!). This was just the second day and there were still 6 days ahead of me to make the trip as perfect as I want it to be. I knew that there are still more to come. With an open mind, I accepted that whether it’ll be good or not-so, it would still make the trip extraordinary and definitely more exciting.

Previous Post: The Great Palawan Experience: Hiking Mt. Tapyas + Dipping in Maquinit Hot Spring #Day1

Next Post: The Great Palawan Experience: Coron to El Nido (V/V), A Hell Ride in Paradise? #Day3

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NOTE: I own all the images used in this blog post unless otherwise stated. Please don’t use these for any purposes, unless you acknowledge the owner. Thank you.

[panelun]

Wait so I decided to dig up some LPE meta, and 1) did Christian really meet Yngve? And 2) did he recognize that he isn't Eric by the lack of a leg scar? Did he memorize his boyfriend's scars so good? I am in awe

Sorry, I was re-reading it to answer you correctly.

First, a little extract of Eric talking about Christian to Jef for the first time :

—Je m’en moque ! Si j’avais un ou deux ans de plus, on ne me traiterait pas ainsi. Patience ! Ça changera. En attendant, dans deux jours, Christian sera là.

— Il te manque tellement ?

— Ah oui, alors ! Pendant quinze ans, tu ne soupçonnes même pas l���existence d’un être que tu rencontre par hasard un matin. Tu passes quinze jours avec lui, il te semble l’avoir connu toute ta vie… Il te plaira sûrement, tu verras.

As Eric plan to present is french boyfriend to his other boyfriend, Tadek argue with Eric and kidnap him to remplace him by Yngne at the begining of the novel.

At the same time, Christian and the others are invited to the coronation, but Tadek don’t let them meet Eric and Christian is sad.

Christian n’a plus faim. Pétrissant son couteau d’argent, il songe au temps où Eric partageait son couvert d’étain.

 As the time goes by, Christian still isn’t authorized to meet personnally Eric.

Philippe ouvrait la bouche pour protester. Il eut pitié de Christian qu’il vit désemparé, et l’entraîna dans la galerie.

— Allons, viens, tout s’expliquera. Tu penses bien qu’Éric ne fait pas ce qu’il veut…

They finally see him during a reception, but it’s Yngne, Eric’s sosie, and he didn’t looks at Christian nor talk to him. Christian don’t notice they remplaced him. He looks changed, but everyone think it’s because he’s hill.

Christian’s Intense gaze, illustrated by Pierre Joubert.

Au dîner, Christian le dévora des yeux.

He try to convince Tadek to let him talk to Eric in private, but the advisor refuse once again.

And Christian, after being nearly killed by his lover during the last book, don’t takes “no” for an answer. He try to enter by force but he’s stopped by Jef who give him a rendez-vous to talk. Christian is now conviced Eric’s is held captive.

But a french ambasador (probably here to temper the diplomatic tensions between France and Swedenborg. Remember the Eric’s agression in the wood by the Lynx ?) also noticed something was wrong and suggest Eric had been remplaced. Christian says he was too affected to notice, but remembers Eric had a scar on the leg.

— Si elle existe, c’est lui. Sinon, c’est un imposteur. Seulement, il faudra le voir les jambes nues, et ce ne sera pas facile !

I’m sure Christian saw this scar more than he should have…

Well, at least, we already know Tadek didn’t found the scouts undressing the prince, or France and Swedenborg would still be at war.

So many jokes, so little time…

They decide to organise a scouts’ party and ask Eric to wear scout uniform to corroborate their doubts.

The day after…

Dès qu’il le vit, Christian su que ce n’était pas lui. Jamais Eric n’aurait ainsi noué son foulard, mis ses bas aussi mal. 

“Darling, you’re maybe dying, at least, but try to be tidy !”

So Christian ask the the prince if he can help him to tie his scarf and arrange his socks. The boy says yes and Christian notice he don’t have scar on the leg. 

During the evening, Jef enter in the scouts’ room and tell them what happened.

Before being kidnapped, Eric wrote a message to Jef.

Suis enfermé ici par Tadek. Je ne sais ce qui va m’arriver. Préviens mes amis, veille sur Christian, méfie toi de Ralfsen : c’est un traître.

I understand this as “take care of my boyfriend”.

He discovered Eric was replaced by a sosie, Yngne, a sick boy Tadek force to play Eric’s role. The advisor don’t heal him so he’ll die as Eric after the coronation.

The day after, they go to the church. Christian prays.

For Eric, of course.

— Mon Dieu, suppliait Christian, faites qu’on le retrouve ! Tout ce que vous voudrez que je fasse, je le ferai, tous les sacrifices que vous me demanderez, je vous les offrirai. Oh, je sais, nous sommes si nombreux à prier, supplier, réclamer, si nombreux à dire “s’il-vous-plait” et jamais “merci”, si nombreux dont il faut s’occuper… N’oubliez pas mon père, ma mère, ma patrouille, mes frères les scouts, et mes autres frères auxquels vous n’avez pas accordé cette grâce — les garçons rencontrés à Berlin… — Mais Seigneur, faites qu’on le retrouve !

And Philippe…

Eric m’appartient, tout comme Christian, Daniel ou François. Eric est Loup, frère Jesus, rends-le-nous.

In heaven, Jesus :

So they go with Jef to save Eric. Stuff happen. They find the place where he’s held captive and look for him.

And find him.

 Behind a door in a closet…

Soudain, Christian bondit, ouvre une armoire : c’est elle qui dissimule la porte, le dernier obstacle. On introduit la clef dans la serrure, on tire le verrous, on bouscule dans l’ouverture, et…

Et…

Et on découvre Eric, qui se jette au cou de Christian et délire de bonheur.

I… don’t have words. The symbolic of this scene is too much for me…

But scouts remembers them they have to be quick. They used a boat, but fall on the lake. By chance, they’re all safe and sound, but Eric is tired.

Eric se laisse tomber sur le sol et gémit.

— Pas de ça ! fait Christian qui le prend sur ses épaules.

They find a house. The woman living here lets them in and heals Eric.

The day after, Ralfsen arrives and begs for forgiveness. Eric boy accepts his excuses and he helps them to go back to the capital. They arrrest Tadek, Yngne die and Eric becomes the king. 

The end !

[bassin-minier-regis]

La grande grève des mineurs d’Anzin.

Un des conflits les plus importants qu’a connu notre bassin minier est incontestablement la grande grève des mineurs d’Anzin qui s’est déroulée du 18 février au 15 avril 1884 sous la troisième République. L’origine du conflit est liée à la décision prise par la compagnie des mines d’Anzin (qui s’étend sur une grande partie du bassin de Valenciennes et jusqu’au Douaisis) de licencier les postes de raccommodeurs (vieux mineurs chargés avec les galibots en formation de l’entretien des galeries). Cette tâche sera donnée aux abatteurs qui auront en conséquence une perte de salaire.

L’objectif de la compagnie est de « tuer dans l’œuf » la chambre syndicale des mineurs du Nord crée à Denain en 1883 à un moment où elle connaît des problèmes d’écoulements des stocks de charbon à cause de la crise qui sévit.

Emile Basly (1854-1928) ancien mineur licencié de la fosse Villars de Denain et secrétaire de la chambre syndicale déclenche donc « la rebelle ». D’importantes réunions se tiendront dans son cabaret « au XIXe siècle» situé à quelques pas de la fosse Villars. Très rapidement, quasiment l’ensemble des 12 000 mineurs que compte la compagnie se mettent en grève. Plus de la moitié des mineurs est déjà syndiquée. En réponse, la compagnie licencie plus de 140 ouvriers quasiment tous membres du syndicat…

De la fin février à la fin du mois de mars, les descentes quotidiennes sont comprises entre 800 et 1300 mineurs. Des expéditions punitives sont menées contre les « jaunes ». La grève prend une tournure nationale. Elle est relayée par la presse Parisienne et le Président de la république reçoit même une délégation de mineurs. George Clemenceau (futur ministre de l’intérieur qui réprimera durement la grève de 1906) prend même la défense des mineurs à l’assemblée.

Début avril, le conflit se durcit alors que redescendent plus de 2000 mineurs. A Denain, c’est l’émeute. Plus de 2000 grévistes se dirigent à la fosse Renard pour menacer les ouvriers qui redescendent. Les gendarmes sont mis en déroute et le sous-préfet envoie sur place un bataillon d’infanterie et un escadron de Dragon. Les jours suivants, toutes les fosses sont occupées militairement et 37 manifestants sont arrêtés et condamnés à des peines s’étalant de 8 jours à 3 mois de prison.

Dans les corons, on crève la faim et la lassitude demeure. La compagnie résiste malgré de faibles concessions proposées. La grève et un échec mais elle a démontré le potentiel du syndicalisme naissant. Emile Basly qui a toujours été hostile à la violence se démena pour recueillir des dons à l’issue du conflit pour les familles de mineurs en se rendant notamment à Paris.

C’est de cette grève que s’est inspiré Emile Zola qui publiera le roman Germinal en 1885. Il s’était rendu sur place fin février 1884 où il visita les installations de la fosse Thiers et il descendra au fond de la fosse Renard de Denain. Il rencontra également le leader syndical Emile Basly. Ce dernier joua un grand rôle lors de la grève de 1906 à la suite de la terrible catastrophe des mines de Courrières.

[morgangraves]

Je viens de terminer '' Les galeries hurlante " écrit par Jean-Marc Dhainaut. Édition Taurnada Genre : Francophone/Epouvante/Drame J ai réellement apprécié cet ouvrage. Il traite bien évidemment de hantise pure qui s'abat sur une famille vivant dans le nord de la France. Entre flash-back dans les corons, les galeries de mines abandonnés et d'un vieil hôpital en ruine, le lecteur découvre une enquête profondément humaine menée par le détective en paranormal Alan Lambin, qui lui-même lutte contre ses propres démons (personnage récurant de l'écrivain). L'écriture est très agréable et accessible, sans grande prétention, elle laisse au lecteur une grande facilité pour être porté par l'histoire. Je recommande grandement pour passer un bon moment de lecture (et de bonne flippe aussi quelques fois !) . . #jeanmarcdhainaut#lesgalerieshurlantes#taurnadaedition #auteur#écrivain#français #epouvante#horreur#horror#hantise#fantomes#demons#revenants#creapy#spooky #corons#mines#mineurs#charbon#lenord https://www.instagram.com/p/CTiduykoFCp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[empiredesimparte]

Official portrait of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Napoleon V of the French, on the occasion of the coronation

The photograph was taken in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, by la Maison de l'Empereur. Emperor Napoleon V is wearing the grand collar and ribbon of the Order of the Legion of Honor, the sword of Charlemagne, and the uniform of Grand Habit d'amiral de la Marine Impériale.

⚜ Traduction française

Portrait officiel de Sa Majesté Impériale, l'Empereur Napoléon V, à l'occasion du couronnement

La photographie a été réalisée dans la galerie des glaces à Versailles, par la Maison de l'Empereur. L'Empereur porte le grand collier et le ruban de l'ordre de la légion d'honneur, l'épée de Charlemagne, et l'uniforme de Grand Habit d'amiral de la Marine Impériale.

[trascapades]

🎨#ArtIsAWeapon #NewExhibit @retroafrica presents ‘Do This in Memory of Us’ group exhibition - featuring works by Victor Ehikhamenor (@victorsozaboy), Nate Lewis (@nloois), and Chéri Samba (@cheri_samba_officiel) - at @lehmannmaupin gallery, now through August 17, 2021.

536 West 22nd Street #NYC

Reposted from @lehmannmaupin: @RetroAfrica is based in Abuja, #Nigeria and is presenting exhibitions in New York for the first time this summer. The gallery was founded in 2015 by Dolly Kola-Balogun (@dollykola) and is committed to highlighting the breadth and depth of the contemporary African art scene.

—

1) Nate Lewis, ‘Another Orchestra’, 2021 (detail). Hand sculpted inkjet print, ink, colored pencil, graphite, frottage, 70 x 44 inches (177.8 x 111.76 cm);

2) Chéri Samba, ‘Je ne suis pas aimé,’ 2020 (detail). Acrylic on canvas, 53.15 x 78.74 inches (135 x 200 cm). Courtesy Galerie MAGNIN-A, Paris;

3) Victor Ehikhamenor, ‘CORONATION OF OBA ESIGIE’, 2021. Rosary beads, thread, gemstones, and bronze statuettes on lace textile, 60.5 x 102.5 inches (153.67 x 260.35 cm)

·

#retroafrica #natelewis #cherisamba #victorehikhamenor #lehmannmaupin #BlackArt #BlackArtists #AfricanArtists #ContemporaryAfricanArt #ArtAndTheCity #BlackGirlArtGeeks

[robertlaskarzewski]

Twenty-fourth blog

On Sunday, I went to the flea market of St-Ouen in the northwestern part of Paris, far from the center. Although I didn’t find anything in particular, I was found by a torrential downpour that sent all the vendors into a frenzy to cover their prized treasures in plastic film or tarpaulin.

On Monday, I went to Mont-Valérien, a city on the Western outskirts of Paris located near the Financial center of La Défense. My goal was to visit Fort Mont- Valérien – an imposing fort built to defend Paris during the mid-19th century. Unfortunately, due to its current status as an active military base, I couldn’t actually visit the inside and had to settle for a walk around its perimeter.

On Tuesday, I went to Meudon, a city in the southern suburbs of Paris – known for being the site of a location of the Observatory of Paris that rests on the old site of a Chateau belonging to French royalty. The chateau has since been destroyed but nonetheless, its grounds are home to the large domed observatory.

On Wednesday, I stayed relaxed in Cergy not really doing a whole lot. I walked around the area and came across a small, wooded area with brick paths running through it like a gridded set of roads.

Thursday, I spent the day in Paris near the Arc de Triomphe.

Friday, I went to the Louvre and got to see all the classics: The Mona Lisa, Liberty Guiding the People, and my personal favorite being paintings by Jacques-Louis David (Oath of the Horatii and The Coronation of Napoleon being a couple). It was quite packed inside the museum and as a result, it was a bit warm inside (even with the air conditioning). There was a temporary exhibition inside showcasing Art from the Islamic world, a quite intriguing exhibit that I was unable to fully appreciate as I was just so tired.

On Saturday, I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, the latter of which I had done before but the former being something I had never done. It was a bit nerve-wracking at times standing on an elevator ascending to the top of a thin structure, but I reassured myself that it was safe. The view was quite nice from the top, however, there was a huge rain storm that quickly appeared and essentially ground operations to a halt for about fifteen minutes.

On Sunday, I went to Montmartre area (an area I have visited several times already), the Père Lechaise cemetery (an area I had never been to), and the Galeries Lafayette (a place I have been to a few times). I liked all three places although I think that going to the cemetery is a bit of a one-time thing and I’m unlikely to revisit anytime soon. (It rained again later in the day).

[fantasticdragonsharkpaper]

Repost @latelierdelitote Un roman touchant avec sa bande de copains, tous plus ou moins équilibrés mais qui gardent un côté attachant. Un roman coup de poing qui vous cueille dès le premier chapitre, la tuerie d’une famille entière, les Bastien et leurs trois fillettes. L’enquête sera menée par la capitaine Amélie Laribi qui a succédé au capitaine David Blake dépressif, alors que le commissariat d’Auchel dans le Pas-de-Calais entre en ébullition. La victime se révèle être un des membres d’une bande de jeunes qui vingt-cinq ans plutôt semait le désordre dans la région. Il n’en faut pas plus pour que les membres survivants se retrouvent et décident de venger leur copain Eric Bastien dit La Teigne. L’auteur nous dresse une galerie de portraits uniques et hauts en couleurs, composée de six garçons et d’une fille. Eric Bastien ou Riton, Lucien jambier dit Lulu, Beau parleur, Blondin, le Polak, Mehdi et la belle Myrtille. Se tisse une histoire qui trouve sa source dans le passé. Comme des ronds dans l’eau, les répliques des actes commis continuent à générer des effets nocifs même des années après. J’ai trouvé l’écriture de Michaël Molonska vivante et parfois déstabilisante, il ne se lasse pas de jouer avec les allers et retours dans le temps au risque de nous perdre. Le langage employé avec un accent ch’ti plus vrai que nature à résonné plus d’une fois à mon oreille. Un langage fleurit qui donne du corps au racisme ambiant avec des dialogues superbement réalistes et d’une fluidité à toute épreuve. En lisant ce livre j’ai senti une énergie qui se dégageait de cette bande de jeunes désœuvrés en quête de plus et surtout une envie de quitter corons et terrils pour aller voir ailleurs si l’herbe ne serait pas plus verte. Un bel hommage rendu aux gens de ch’Nord, à la noirceur et aux farces que la vie nous joue. Bonne lecture. @lbseditions http://latelierdelitote.canalblog.com/archives/2021/03/05/38785911.html #enattendantlesvers #michaëlmoslonka #receptiondujour #bookphotography #passionlecture #suspense #romanpolicier #polar #chroniqueavenir #romannoir #servicepresse #chroniqueavenir #nouveautés #synopsis https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKg6u5HeV7/?igshid=10ckurn5xbqjk

[idealconservateur]

MONTESQUIOU (R. De)

Les Chauves-Souris. Clairs-obscurs. Deuxième ouvrage carminal [Paris, Georges Richard, 1892], in-4°, vélin ivoire à la Bradel, sur le premier plat portrait de l'auteur peint à l'huile par «[La]Gandara», dessous vers autographes signés, à l'encre de Chine, sur le second plat chiffre entrelacé [JE] frappé à froid dans un médaillon à fond doré, dos lisse, couverture de soie gris perle brochée de chauves-souris, de lunes et d'étoiles et doublée de satin jaune d'or avec les mêmes motifs, tête dorée, non rogné (Henry-Joseph [Pierson] -[La] Gandara).

  ÉDITION ORIGINALE du premier recueil de poèmes de Robert de Montesquiou (1855-1921). Éditée à compte d'auteur, elle ne fut pas mise dans le commerce. L'année suivante parurent deux autres éditions, dont l'une avec des ornements dessinés par Forain, Whistler, La Gandara et Yamamoto. Les Chauves-Souris, un recueil de nocturnes symbolistes. Avec Les Hortensias bleus et Le Chef des odeurs suaves, les 164 pièces de vers des Chauves-Souris constituent le coeur de l'oeuvre poétique de l'auteur. À l'occasion d'une réédition, celui qui avouait un goût certain pour la nuit et ses mystères explique l'âme du poète éveillée par les chauves-souris: «L'étrange volatile m'a semblé représenter, par son inquiétude et son incertitude entre la lumière et l'ombre, l'état d'âme des mélancoliques.» Le talent de Robert de Montesquiou fut apprécié par Mallarmé, Verlaine, Mirbeau ou Rodenbach. Cependant, son goût immodéré pour l'extrême préciosité lui valut de devenir le modèle de des Esseintes, le dandy décadent d'À rebours, et du baron de Charlus dans À la recherche du temps perdu. L'ouvrage est précédé d'une lettre-préface de Leconte de Lisle. Précieux exemplaire offert par l'auteur à Edmond de Goncourt, accompagné d'un long et déférent envoi autographe, daté «Juillet 92». Robert de Montesquiou par Antonio de La Gandara: l'un des 29 livres à portrait de la bibliothèque d'Edmond de Goncourt. Avec Henri Beraldi, Edmond de Goncourt (1822-1896) fut l'un des arbitres des élégances bibliophiliques en matière de reliures décorées fin de siècle. Dans le Grenier de la maison d'Auteuil, à partir de 1885, Edmond reçoit chaque dimanche ses amis, artistes et écrivains, au milieu de ses collections d'oeuvres d'art et des livres de sa bibliothèque. C'est dans le cadre du Grenier et de ses amitiés qu'Edmond, en 1890, conçoit le projet d'une série de reliures destinées à habiller un choix très personnel de livres «mieux aimés» parmi les livres modernes de sa collection. Chacun de ces livres recevra, sur le premier plat de sa reliure, le portrait de son auteur par un peintre auquel le lie l'amitié. De 1890 à 1896, date de la mort d'Edmond, 29 reliures à portrait furent réalisées; toutes sur des vélins pleins établis par Henry-Joseph Pierson, son relieur favori. Parmi les associations écrivains-peintres qu'il souhaita magnifier par ces livres à portrait, on peut citer Burty par Chéret, Daudet par Carrière, Julia Daudet par James Tissot, Edmond de Goncourt par Carrière, Huysmans par Raffaelli, Régnier par Blanche, Lecomte par Renoir, Zola par Raffaëlli ou Mirbeau par Rodin. Antonio de La Gandara, quant à lui, donna les portraits de Jean Lorrain et de Montesquiou. Ces reliures, dont Bernard Vouilloux écrit qu'elles sont une innovation bibliophilique d'Edmond de Goncourt, étaient à n'en pas douter l'un des joyaux du Grenier. Cinq d'entre elles furent présentées pour la première fois en 1893, à la galerie Georges Petit pour l'exposition Portraits des écrivains et journalistes du siècle (1793-1893). Henri Bouchot écrit alors qu'elles en furent le «clou». Six de ces reliures à portrait sont aujourd'hui conservées dans des institutions publiques parisiennes. Antonio de La Gandara (1861-1917), l'un des portraitistes attitrés du comte de Montesquiou. L'un et l'autre sont des habitués du Grenier. Ils sont liés d'amitié depuis 1885. Le comte a beaucoup fait pour les débuts de l'artiste. Lancé dans la haute société parisienne, La Gandara en sera l'un des plus brillants portraitistes. Outre celui-ci, au moins deux autres portraits de Montesquiou par La Gandara sont connus: un fusain de 1891 et une huile, vers 1887, conservée au château d'Azay-le-Ferron. Sous son portrait par son ami, Montesquiou a écrit quelques vers à l'encre de Chine, accompagnés de son élégant monogramme. Goncourt a, comme à son habitude - ici sur la première garde du volume -, écrit à l'encre rouge quelques appréciations sur l'ouvrage et quelques caractéristiques de cet exemplaire: «Exemplaire de la première, et de la belle, et de la rare édition des Chauves-Souris [...] précédée d'une lettre dédicatoire manuscrite. Portrait du poète exécuté à l'huile par Gandara dans l'été de 1893.» Dans l' «inventaire littéraire» qu'il établit en 1894, il a en outre noté que le portrait de Montesquiou par La Gandara «ren[d] bien la silhouette et le port de tête du poète». Exemplaire cité par Vicaire. Parfaitement conservé, il est préservé dans une chemise-étui moderne à dos de maroquin olive. Sont joints: - une LAS à Madame [Arman de Caillavet], 4 pp. in-4° à l'encre noire sur papier ocre, datées «Pavillon des Muses». Le poète regrette «l'anéantissement» d'un projet commun, mais assure sa correspondante que des «liens invisibles» existent entre eux, «incessamment disponibles». Née Léontine Lippmann, Madame de Caillavet tint un salon littéraire important et fut la maîtresse et l'égérie d'Anatole France. Montesquiou emménagea au Pavillon des Muses, à Neuilly, vers 1900 et y vécut onze ans. - 2 épreuves avec la lettre du portrait de Montesquiou gravé par Henri Guérard d'après Whistler, paru dans la Gazette des Beaux-Arts en 1903 (C. Bertin, n° 548). Édition limitée à 100 exemplaires, tous imprimés sur papier de Hollande Van Gelder, au filigrane à la chauve-souris. Dimensions: 247 x 192 mm. Expositions: Portraits des écrivains et journalistes du siècle (1793-1893), galerie Georges Petit, juin 1893; Antonio de La Gandara, gentilhomme-peintre de la Belle Époque, 1861-1917, Versailles, musée Lambinet, 3 nov. 2018-24 février 2019, n° 38. Provenances: Edmond de Goncourt (Cat. Livres modernes, 5-10 avril 1897, n° 21), avec son ex-libris gravé par Gavarni; Philippe Kah (1897-1972), avocat et homme de lettres, avec son ex-libris (aucun catalogue à ce nom à la BNF); Pierre Bergé (Cat. II, novembre 2016, n° 484), avec son ex-libris. Vicaire (G.), Manuel de l'amateur de livres du XIXe siècle. 1801-1893, V, 1106; Crauzat (E. de), La Reliure française de 1900 à 1925, I, pp. 118; Vouilloux (B.), «Une collection d'unica. Les livres à portraits d'Edmond de Goncourt», in CONTEXTES, 14 | 2014 (édition en ligne); Galantaris (Ch.), «Les Goncourt bibliophiles», in Le Livre et l'estampe, XXXX, 1994, n° 142, pp. 7-63; Coron (A., éd.), Des livres rares..., BNF, n° 232 (Germinie Lacerteux des Goncourt, ex. d'Edmond, vélin, portrait d'Edmond peint par Raffaëlli); Mathieu (X.), Antonio de La Gandara, gentilhomme-peintre de la Belle Époque, 1861-1917, Versailles, musée Lambinet, 3 nov. 2018-24 février 2019, n° 38 (avec reproduction) et passim

https://www.bibliorare.com/lot/324004/   Adjudication : 20 000 € 

[le-nid-du-poete]

Dernier livre lu: Émile Zola, Germinal, Paris, Belin Gallimard, Collection Classico Folio Junior , 2015, 400 pages.

Introduction de l’oeuvre et bref résumé de l’histoire

Ce roman s’inscrit dans une fresque romanesque plus large nommée “Les Rougon-Macquart”. Cette collection de textes est articulée autour de l’arbre généalogique de la famille Rougon-Macquart et chaque membre (20 au total) fait l’objet d’un roman à part entière. Le modèle de construction littéraire choisi par Zola lui permet de dépeindre la société française de la fin du Second Empire par une analyse évolutive des moeurs, à travers les générations et les différentes sous-branches d’un même arbre familial. Zola souhaitait également par-là montrer le “jeu de la race modifiée”, à savoir mettre en exergue, par une compréhension se voulant scientifique ou “naturaliste”, les rapports de causalité d’une génération à l’autre sur la détermination des individus, ainsi que l’impact socio-économique de base sur l’évolution de ces mêmes individus. 

Germinal est donc l’un des livres composant cette collection et se retrouve assigné au membre de la famille Étienne Lantier. D’autres romans bien connus de cette fresque sont "L'Assommoir", 1878; "Nana", 1880; "Au Bonheur des Dames", 1883; "L'Œuvre", 1886; "La Terre", 1887; "La Bête humaine", 1890; et "L'Argent", 1891.

Germinal donne à contempler, dans la profondeur du réalisme offert par une narration toutefois ponctuée de touches romantiques, d’une certaine manière à la façon de Flaubert dans Madame Bovary, où la nature est souvent employée comme miroir du fond intérieur des personnages, la condition sociale des mineurs français sous le Second Empire du XIXème siècle. 

Le roman dépeint avec brio la fameuse lutte des classes théorisée par Karl Marx ainsi que les fondements de l’impulsion communiste. Par le personnage d’Étienne, jeune ouvrier arrivant dans le Nord, du côté de Montsou, à la recherche désespérée d’un travail, le lecteur est introduit à la vie prolétaire des corons et de sa population, ainsi qu’aux conditions du labeur au fond du gouffre infini du Voreux. 

Parmi ce peuple, composé de plusieurs générations de mineurs, un dévouement au travail comme valeur individuelle est parfaitement mise en lumière: les ouvriers s’accommodent au mieux de leur condition et considèrent gagner leur pain grâce au dur labeur sans se plaindre. Mais l’écart des richesses entre les actionnaires des mines de Montsou et des ouvriers est grandissante et la crise minière des dernières années ne fait qu’aggraver la condition des mineurs. 

La famine étend son ombre au dessus des toits des foyers. Il ne faudra plus que la Compagnie acte l’entrée en vigueur d’un tarif sur le boisage des galeries et d’une diminution de la paie par berline de houille pour que la grève n’éclate, avec Étienne à sa tête comme jeune leader. Les rêves de toute une légion de soldats de la pauvreté grandissent alors, ceux peignant l’aspiration à un monde meilleur à construire, à conquérir, pour eux et pour leurs enfants. Arriveront-ils à faire advenir la grande révolution communiste du prolétariat ? La grande bourgeoisie du capital peut-elle être renversée ? Seul le long combat qu’ils s’apprêtent à mener saura le dire. 

À propos de l’auteur

Émile Zola (1840-1902) naquit à Paris dans la première partie du XIXème siècle. Il fut tout au long de sa vie employé de la maison Hachette (directeur des publicités en fin de carrière), journaliste, écrivain, critique d’art et homme politiquement engagé. 

Bien qu’étant venu au monde à Paris, Zola passera la majorité de son enfance dans le sud à Aix-en-Provence. À la mort de son père, sa famille tombera dans une série de difficultés financières qui le forceront à arrêter les études qu’il avait débutées. Il commençera alors une carrière chez l’éditeur Hachette en tant que commis. À côté de son travail, Zola est un amoureux de l’écriture. Il s’y essaiera bien vite et publiera un premier roman à scandale publié en 1867 et appelé Thérèse Raquin. 

Reconnu déjà en son temps comme écrivain talentueux, Émile Zola évoluera également dans le milieu du journalisme, en collaborant notamment, en qualité de critique littéraire ou critique d’art, pour divers journaux tels que Le Figaro, le Voltaire ou encore l’Évènement, qui publieront, tout au long de la transition entre le Second Empire et la IIIe République naissante, une série de ses articles, de ses critiques et de ses romans publiés sous forme de feuilleton. 

Auteur basant ses écrits finaux sur des montagnes infinies d’observations conservées dans d’épais cahiers de notes, Zola est un écrivain qui s’engage dans son écriture en la nourrissant d’une recherche de terrain empirique, afin de lui conférer toute sa finesse et son analyse en profondeur des phénomènes sociétaux. Il débutera son travail de recherche pour soutenir l’écriture de Germinal en Février 1984 à Valenciennes. Dans cette ville, il se rapprochera du bureau de l’Administration des Mines d’Anzin afin de percer le monde du prolétariat minier de son temps. Son arrivée se plaça dans le contexte de la Grande grève des mineurs d’Anzin de 1984 qui rassemblera une union de dix milles mineurs, thème par ailleurs central du roman même. 

Politiquement engagé, l’esprit de révolte littéraire de Zola ne s’arrêtera par ailleurs pas à la simple lutte des classes ouvrières, il viendra également se poser comme fervent défenseur de l’antisémitisme croissant en France et manifesté par le fameux procès du général Dreyfus, à l’encontre de l’injustice duquel Émile Zola publiera son texte sacralisé dans les anales de notre histoire, fameusement intitulé J’accuse ... !.

Après avoir mené une longue vie d’écriture engagée, Zola rendra l’âme à son domicile en Septembre 1902 par asphyxie supposément causée par des émanations toxiques de sa cheminée. Il laissera comme héritage au peuple français une véritable pléiade de livres donnant à comprendre la société de son temps ainsi que les enjeux l’ayant animée.