Rodin and Armor

Today's adventure: Rodin! What a great way to spend the day!

Are you ready for today's art lesson?  I learned a lot today.  Rodin made many casts of his famous statue The Thinker.  It was originally a very small statue.  He made it larger once he decided he liked it so much.

The Thinker in the garden of the Musee Rodin.

Rodin also liked to take apart his molds and reuse the body parts to make new statues or statues of individual body parts.  

Hand by Rodin

Rodin's work was compared to Robert Maplethorpe's photography in a special exhibit.  Maplethorpe loved Rodin and studied him closely.  He also took pictures of isolated body parts as well.  They both used movement and light and line in their work. It was stunning to see these works side by side.  Really powerful and beautiful.

Hands by Maplethorpe

It was also very cool to see all the famous Rodin sculptures in one place.  The Museum is located in what was once a hotel that became an artists quarters.  It was then purchased by Rodin and made into a museum by him as well.  

The Kiss by Rodin

Hotel Biron that houses the Musee Rodin

The museum also has beautiful gardens to wander.  Rodin sculptures are tucked into the garden landscape amid beautiful flowers and lawns. 

Eccos at Musee Rodin

After I left the Musee Rodin I wandered the streets nearby.  I found another beautiful museum to visit!

This lovely building is the home of Napoleon's Tomb, the Hotel des Invalides.  This is actually the church dome where the tomb lies.  One of the wings of the Hotel des Invalides houses the Musee de l'Armee, the military museum.  

Napoleon's Tomb

Eccos at Napoleon's Tomb

Admittedly, I am not that interested in military stuff. None the less, I went through the military museum after seeing Napoleon's Tomb.  It was filled with case after case of armor, swords, and guns.  What I saw surprised me.  The armor was gorgeous! The swords were so beautifully decorated.  The guns were beautifully carved and etched.  There were whole rooms of cannons!  It was actually pretty interesting and cool.  I really liked it.  

Head armor for a horse. So cool!

Check out that beautiful armor!  

After learning all I could manage at the military museum I decided it was time to call it a day.  I hopped back on the metro and headed back to the flat for a yummy dinner of bread, cheese and cherries.  

La cerise origine France Provence