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I was pleasantly surprised to be asked to contribute to an article written by Redfin for an Apartment Guide they are publishing.  It offers suggestions to apartment dwellers on ways to decorate their abodes.  They were smart to offer authentic responses from working artists from across the country.

   The article was articulate and interesting.  You can find their suggestions and mine in the following article:   https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/selecting-art-for-your-apartment/ .  Even if you are not in an apartment, many of us have downsized to smaller places or simply updated our decor to freshen things up.  Take a peek.

These are works I've seen when in NYC.

At the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, I found this Monet, showing how he painted in his boat.  It explained how he captured some of his work at close range, and on his own pond.

In 1995, I saw his huge retrospective at the Chicago Art Institute in Chicago.  It was the first location to have held it and the only one that year because Chicago was the first city to patronize the Impressionists.  There was a slow and reluctant market in Paris, and the new American market infused a whole new source of income to the artists.

As an art student overseas in 1978, I got to Paris and saw the original Impressionist Gallery, Jeu de Paume, before the Musee d'Orsay existed.  

 Since then, I've had the wonder and joy of seeing his works at both of the Museums above, and spent a lot of time absorbing the 360 degree gallery of his infamous waterlilies in the final hall.  (An example of the waterlilies can be seen above in my snap from the Cleveland Art Institute). I did not have any images from l'Orangerie.

  On our recent trip to Paris, we visited the Marmottan Monet Museum, a mansion that housed one of the largest bequeathed collections of Monet to a single place.  

Not only did the Marmatton have Monet's collection, but it housed priceless objects d'art throughout.  The above painting, one of Monet's quick paintings, was said to have coined the description of the works of the Impressionists.  It was added to an exhibition last minute with the title "Impression of a Sunset".  The publicist grasped onto this and used it to describe the works of his contemporaries from then on.  The word stuck.

Michel, Monet's son, bequeathed his father's remaining paintings to Paul Marmottan because of his reputation and integrity.  He knew they would be shown with the dignity and space necessary.

My next post will show his home and gardens at Giverny.

I rated Venice as one of my top ten Art Destinations because of my criteria: Easy access to many amazing artistic wonders in a concentrated area.  With safe strolling, great dining, interesting happenings and surprises around every corner, it was a delight!

   This is one of the very few places to which I would like to return and just wander the streets again.  The pace of life, the opulent architecture, historic crafts, romantic gondolas, majestic artwork and postcard-picture views everywhere.  

   The uniqueness of a city built on hundreds of islands connected by a canal system makes it dependent on quaint bridges, water taxis and of course, the gondolas.  The wealth of the Venetian merchants in the Renaissance era elevated the tastes of the city.  Its closeness to Byzantium had a big influence. 

   Money was no object when constructing the central square, Piazza San Marco, which contains St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge Palace. 

  Above are a few snaps of things seen in that very public area, the biggest tourist spot of them all.  There are many gondolas parked in front of this area too, so it is a very busy and chaotic area to be.  Inside, both the Basilica and Doge Palace were on the same scale of grandeur as the Vatican, in my opinion.  Every edifice was carved, inlaid with tiles, painted, gold-leafed, sculpted, draped or decorated with the best the times had to offer.  (The above right picture was a chance meeting with a masked lass, posing for an advertisement of some sort.)

The tinted plaster of the buildings, the arched windows, graceful railings and awnings, flower boxes and of course, the canals are the mainstay of the area.

  You haven't visited Venice if you haven't taken a gondola ride.  These beautiful vessels are very posh with cushions, gilded wood and burly gondoliers.  It's a dreamy ride and heady experience.

You also get the opportunity to see Venice from a whole different perspective.

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Besides the water routes, there is much to happen upon while strolling.  We saw works by Tintoretto as we visited a cathedral, were enthralled with one of the many mask shops for Carnevale, saw several dance and choral groups busking some squares and then saw the unusual too......

I'll always remember our magical trip and all of the incredible experiences we had here.

Rome was quite the whirlwind of a tour.  Amazing ancient sites, beautiful fountains, art and architecture everywhere - but to get from one place to another - Mama Mia!!  The Coliseum is the most recognized and iconic structure of Rome and so fabled in countless movies - Ben Hur, Gladiator etc.  I love that you can see multiple levels at one time to appreciate the advanced technology and workmanship of the place.  You can almost hear the roar of lions they kept there, the clash of centurion swords and screams of poor victims.  The massive amphitheater held many thousands of  people, who we can imagine showing their thumbs up or down for the brutal shows. 

The Holy Roman Empire was so named because Rome was the epicenter of the Catholic Church.  The politics of Rome were inextricably entwined with the church, for better or worse.  The art of the eras were well-patronized by either the Church or the Emperor de Jour.  The Renaissance was flourishing with the work of Donatello, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo and other of import and funds were no issue.

The Vatican and St. Peter's Cathedral are the most visited and famous sites beyond the Coliseum - and must top the list of things to see for any tourist.  Your head will be spinning at the end of the day from seeing any of these sites - but for a good reason!!

Every inch of the Vatican was embellished to nth degree - even the inlaid stone on the floors (right image).  I was the last one in our group continuously because I was so enthralled with everything, and taking pictures!  We were allowed to view the Sistine Chapel in the Papal chapel for a finite amount of time - with a guard in there to keep people silent and from taking photos of any kind.  It was very revered and secured in order to preserve it.  I hate to say it, but the Sistine Chapel was almost a letdown after we'd gone through hallways like those above..... 

Even the inner courtyard and views out of the windows were exquisite - as well as the Swiss Guard with their colorful uniforms.  (I love their spats!!!!!!)

I was glad we got to see St. Peter's Basilica, even if it was a short visit with many other tourists.  Knowing the wall art was made of thousands of mosaic tiles, seeing Michelangelo's Pieta, Donatello's unusual but ethereal altar and the grand scale of every facet of this cathedral made me wide-eyed in disbelief.  My head hurt that night and my heart was pounding from the sensory overload!

I rated Rome lower because of the difficulty of getting around, and how crowded it was.  Of course there are better and worse times to see it, but it really hurt the experience.  I must say the grandeur was a little off-putting too, but have to admit it was impressive.  I would probably stay outside of the city if we were to go back, just because it seemed so crazy (and this is coming from a Jersey Girl!)

Hope you get to visit here one day too.  We were here from a cruise stop and one day from an Italian tour.  I don't think I would have enjoyed Rome without the guides we had - it is not as hospitable as other cities in which I've been.  Ciao for now!

Bev    

SO, did you agree with Barcelona or are you still a holdout for Paris?  If you've been to both, maybe you can chime in with your opinion too.

Having been to Paris as an art student 40 years ago and later with my husband on a tour, I've had the opportunity to see it with and without money, lol.  As a student, I saw the obvious incredible iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame Cathedral (before the fire),  the Louvre (sans Pyramid entry), the Jeu de Pomme (the former museum for the Impressionists - now the D'Orsay Museum),  and the Champs Elysees.  Highlights of that trip included meeting Sissey Spacek in the Jeu de Pomme, an evening organ recital in Notre Dame, and going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  I was also there long enough to do day-trips cheaply to Versailles, Chartres Cathedral, and Chateau de Fontainebleau.  

With that background, the three days I had on our tour as an adult did not include most of the aforementioned sites.  You need lots of time and knowledge of the City to get to all of the above locations.  What we did see was, of course, amazing and memorable - but I still say Barcelona had easier ways to see more in less time.

For first-timers, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Louvre and L'arc de Triomphe should top your list.  There are several ways to see each of these, and hopefully you would get to see them at your leisure.  They are everyone else's top picks too.  Tip:  take the Isle De Cite evening boat ride around Notre Dame for a relaxing and beautiful view of the old city and cathedral at night.  Have dinner on the Champs Elysees in one of the outdoor street Bistros then walk to the Arc de Triumph.  You'll be treated to one of the best views of Paris at night and the Eiffel Tower's nightly light show.

Yes, Paris has the Louvre, which is a cavernous building with the need to have a guide, and the D'Orsay Gallery - my top of the list must-see for art lovers.  I'm still an Impressionist fan and will never get enough of the Masters here.  I bet you can name every artist or work in there too....  L' Orangerie is another top pick for a meditative view of Monet's Waterlilies in a 360 degree immersion gallery.   

Le Sacre Couer Cathedral is an underrated attraction that takes you to the seedier, more interesting part of Paris, Montmartre.  You have to take a cog railway to it's upper setting that overlooks Paris (or die first with the stair climb).  Up here are lots of people-watching opportunities - more of locals than tourists.  You'll also see the infamous Lido and Moulin Rouge night clubs - hangouts for Toulouse Latrec and other notable historic artists.  There are several pleasing walks with art sprinkled throughout.

The plethora of avenues in which to wander and enjoy are a delight in Paris too - but only if you know where to go.  It is overwhelming with tourists and some areas are not safe at all.  You MUST have a croissant while there to understand what a real one tastes like, and indulge in some patisseries.  You are, after all, in Paris!!

Lastly, you are cheating yourself if you don't stay long enough to do some of the day trips to Versailles (Bridgerton fans?) and Monet's Giverny, to name a few.  Paris is not a city I would do without a tour the first time - unlike Barcelona.  That's what tipped my scale from #1 to #2.  The waiters disdain for Americans is palpable, - especially if you don't order wine with your meal, so be prepared.  Look at it as an expectation, and have a secret competition for the surliest one!  Au Revoir and viva la France! 

What?  Barcelona - not Paris as my top pick for My Top Art City?  How can this be?  Well read on and find out.

As much as I LOVE Paris, I had a difficult time finding and getting to and staying in Paris.  It took a while to see what I wanted, and it was very spread out.  Barcelona had more "joie de vivre" while visiting, was clean, easy to get around with public transportation, friendly people, lots of live and street art, concentrated walkable areas of important sites, and many additional things to see just outside of town.

On paper, Barcelona had a lot going for it: former Olympic Site (2012); hometown heroes of Picasso, Miro and Dali; and fantastic coastal location on the Mediterranean.  The big surprise and well-kept secret was their uber-genius architect, Antoni Gaudi.  How had I never heard of him in all of my art history classes!!  This legendary man lived only 44 years, but made his stamp of creativity all throughout the city.  You have probably at least heard of La Sagrada Familia cathedral, the unbelievable structure begun over 100 years ago, but still under construction.  It was so far ahead of its time that current and contemporary architects could not understand his blueprints (which were partially destroyed by a fire).  Tourists can still visit and see the building while they work to complete it - perhaps in the next decade or two.  Gaudi met his untimely demise while crossing the street and getting hit by a street car.  We are fortunate to see his completed residential and public buildings and park.

The walkable "La Rambla" is a pedestrian walkway through the Old Town area which is the hub of the City.  You can pick up a double-decker bus or metro to see further sites on and off, or spend a day easily in the historic section.  Our Rick Steves' guide was an indispensable help to make the most of our three days there downtown.  Best sites?  La Rambla, the Picasso Museum, all of the Antoni Gaudi sites, La Bouqeria outdoor food market, and  seeing the Sardana Dance.

Catalans do not consider themselves Spanish and have wished to secede as Catalunya for many years.  One way for them to maintain their heritage is to perform the Sardana Dance in the middle of the Old Town square each weekend.  It is like a flash mob performance, where folks put their belongings in the center of a circle, don special dance shoes, hold hands and perform the dance to a live band's music.  They then hug

each other, gather their things and disappear back into the crowd.  So cool!!

We have since returned to Barcelona at the tail end of a trip to Spain.  We spent our time on day trips from there to Montserrat Monastery and Salvadore Dali's hometown and museum in Figueres.  Those will be future posts.  For all who haven't gotten their feet wet in International travel - a big tip - do a Mediterranean Cruise that starts or ends in Barcelona.  Then plan to stay there at least three to five days to see what it has to offer.  You will be just as blown away as I was. 

     Next blog, will be about Paris - my favorite all-time runner up City for art and travel.  See you in two weeks!  Please share if you have also been to Barcelona.  In addition, visit my Travel Photos section of my website to see 8 Fine Art images of the City you might like.   

Are you a Rick Steves fan or a Samantha Brown Travels regular?  So am I.  My blog will appeal to you much in the same way - but from an artistic point of view.

  Subjects I'll cover?  Favorite top ten Art Museums in the world, Most satisfying Surprise Art Destinations, Favorite artists and their work.  I'll take you to fantastic gardens, castles and architectural wonders in such countries as France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and China.  I've got 20 years of travel photos to sprinkle in there!

   Of course I'll share highlights of the best of the U.S. too - especially in NYC, DC, Philadelphia, St. Petersburg, and Chicago.

   So grab a coffee and cake and join me every other week!