The Road To Paris...

I went to Paris this summer with a friend of mine and did the last research to my book. It was quite an interesting trip. The Delacroix museum and former home of Eugène was wonderful, his studio as well and the little garden next to his bedroom. It was nice to see the studio in real life after reading so much about it for over ten years, in some way I could feel his spirit there, he would have been happy that they kept it nice and tidy considering it took so long for him to get everything done. The rest of Paris, unfortunately was another story, it seems as though the whole city is about to crumble. Perhaps it is the lack of interest in "old" art these days, I am not sure, but it's still a shame, especially when Paris would not be what it is without its art.

On a happy note, it was nice to see some familiar places again, the Louvre of course and many other. I especially liked my walk in the Jardin des Plantes, but the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle and Ménagerie du Jardin des plantes where somehow in the process of being rebuilt or updated, so I could not enter all places. The Museum was founded in 1795, so perhaps it was about time.

I went hunting for Delacroix' ghost in his old familiar surroundings; his "old" apartment at 114 rue de I'Université where he lived with Henriette and Raymond De Verniac was still there, although, the number 114 was gone. Outside the National Assembly of France I asked two guards if they could help me find this number, but it was missing. Gazing up at the building I then realized that it had been there on the corner, and after the Delacroix' gave the apartment up, other famous people have lived there, so, it is not a known fact that Eugène lived there when he was young.

Another trip took me to the Pere-Lachaise graveyard, and I must say I did not expect such a huge place. Me and my friend roamed the "streets" and searched for Delacroix tomb until we realized we had an old map. When we finally found the grave it was a surreal experience. Now I could see for my own eyes that he was really dead. Not that I did not know that before, but for me, trying to figure his life out, he has been with me such a long time; and as it is, I am not yet ready to let him go...

Take care until next time...