Impressions

There were only two reasons that I ventured into the Musee d'Orsay- first was the architecture which did not fail to impress and second was a large scale white bear sculpture by Pompon (a much smaller version which captivated me at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), so it was with incredible joy that I found that the museum contained far greater treasures- so many that I cannot recount them all.  As it was not possible to take photographs inside, I am unable to share any of my own images (except one, which I snuck in and is shown below) of the main hall.

What absolutely floored me, though, were two portraits that I had no idea were in the collection.  One is the well known (at least, to those who are enamored of a certain style, for lack of a better word, dandyism)- of Le Comte de Montesquiou by Giovanni Boldini, which depicts that "Prince of Aesthetes".  This served as the cover for Oscar Wilde's book a number of years ago, I believe it was The Importance of Being Earnest, but I no longer have that in my possession.  The other, which stands triumphantly almost side by side with the Count's portrait is the spectacular Emile Blanche painted embodiment of the writer Marcel Proust.  I spent a good deal of time looking at this glowing representation, which seemed to radiate its own mysterious aura, and was quite hesitant to leave it.  Everything about it was alluring, and I had never come face to face with such a living thing before. Alas, all things come to an end- even Proust recognized that.

the main hall, which is far more impressive than a picture allows.

Le Comte de Montesquiou

dear Marcel