Shadow Shot Sunday 145 - Osterley Park, London

This week's shadow shot comes from one of my favourite places in London, namely Osterley Park. These shots were taken on a gorgeous sunny day in mid February when the shadows were sharp. Isn't it a beautiful place??

For more shadow shots this week click HERE for Shadow Shot Sunday. Enjoy!

Fernand Leger in France - Biot

 They all came to the Riviera to draw inspiration for their art, leaving behind wonderful galleries of their work dotted all along the Cote D'Azur. One certainly worth visiting is the rather imposing Musee National Fernand Leger in Biot which was founded by his wife after his death in 1957, and opened in 1960.....

It contains a thorough overview of his work - his brushes with futurism and cubism, as well as his love of architecture, the cinema and the circus....His use of colour, shape, and design is quite unparalleled...

 As well as paintings there are ceramics, mosaics, reliefs, and stained glass pieces, plus some very striking monochromatic works in stunning black and white....

When I visited recently there was a special exhibition of his works inspired by the circus - whimsical, fanciful, and thoroughly charming....

The boldness of the original designs and graphics create a strong impact on the viewer...Enjoy!!

Weekend Reflections 9 - Osterley Park, London

 Afternoon tea at the Stable Tearooms in Osterley Park created the opportunity for this  Weekend Reflection at one of the least known National Trust Properties in London, which is, however, highly popular with locals as an ideal place for an afternoon stroll....and, of course,  afternoon tea...

 This was taken recently in mid February - I have never seen the sky so blue at any time in London, let alone in mid February, so it had to be recorded here for posterity!!

For more Weekend Reflections this week click here, and enjoy!!

Villa Ephrussi - Cap Ferrat

I have shown you the exterior and gardens of Villa Ephrussi this week, so it only seems fair to finish with the interior. First the lofty covered patio with Moorish and Italian elements - marble columns and mosaic floors....

Next Beatrice's boudoir with the exquisite 18thc writing desk that once belonged to Marie Antoinette, and the sumptuous Salon Louis XVI with Crillon ornamentation, Savonnerie carpets, and chairs upholstered in 18thc Aubusson tapestries.....

The beautiful collection of rare porcelain, including pieces from Sevres...

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..and more elegant details from the lavish Salon Louis XVI....

...and lastly Le Cabinet des Singes - a tiny room showing Beatrice's love of animals which is decorated with wooden panels depicting monkeys dancing to the 18th century miniature Messan monkey orchestra...

Villa Ephrussi is located on Cap Ferrat, French Riviera, not far from Nice. Enjoy!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 144 - Villa Ephrussi

 This aerial shadow shot was taken at the Villa Ephrussi on Cap Ferrat, and depicts a herb and flower seller at a garden fair which was hosted in the grounds of this beautiful Villa. The house and gardens are the inspiration of Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild who wanted to create the perfect "dream villa" on the French Riviera, and here she hosted garden parties and soirees until 1934. The main formal French garden (see the previous post) was modelled on a ship's deck, and extra staff were employed to wander around in sailors' uniforms to create the atmosphere of a grand ocean liner on the high seas. In addition, the rest of the "decks" and "sides of the ship" are nine different terraced themed gardens - all offering undeniable beauty and shadowy goodness on a sunny day. Here is the Stone garden....

 ....the Spanish garden...

.... the Exotic garden (all cacti and succulents).....

 .....the Rose garden........

......and the Japanese garden......

The French Riviera is famed for beautiful gardens, so don't hesitate to visit if you get the chance, and also make sure to visit Shadow Shot Sunday this week for more glorious shadow shots from around the world. Enjoy!!

Weekend Reflections 8 - Villa Ephrussi

This week's reflection shot is of the beautiful Villa Ephrussi on Cap Ferrat, French Riviera. If you want to find out more about the Ephrussi dynasty, originally from the Ukraine and married into the Rothschild family, look no further than the wonderful book "The Hare with Amber Eyes" by potter Edmund de Waal - part art history and part family memoir, it is a fascinating story......

For more reflections, check out weekendreflection.blogspot.comthis week......Enjoy!!

Festival du Citron - Menton

Are you fooled into thinking I took a quick trip to Paris this weekend?? Look again closely and you will see before your very eyes The Eiffel Tower made entirely out of........lemons...and it doesn't stop there either.........................

There are Loire Valley Chateaux, Alsace architecture, Brittany lighthouses, rural churches, Riviera resorts, and even Mont Blanc high in the Alps ready to be scaled.......

The city of Paris has been recreated with The Eiffel Tower, metro Stations, and cafe street scenes...

And all these "sculptures" are made entirely out of oranges and lemons creating a surrealist kitsch park of  magic realism - the first time I have been reminded of Mexico City here on the French Riviera.....

Where exactly are we on the Riviera??......Menton of course at the annual Festival du Citron which runs for two weeks from mid February to the beginning of March. My favourite scene is this large bottle of champagne continually filling this pyramid of glasses accompanied by a soundtrack of popping corks and that pleasing gurgling sound of glasses being filled.....

In a few of the photos (such as the one above) there are tiny people which emphasise the sheer scale of these constructions!! Let's take one last look at the Loire Valley Chateau...incredible aren't they???.....

Menton is easily reached by train or 100 bus from Nice, and is a beautiful town to visit in its own right with many other attractions - but if you visit in February be sure to check out the Festival du Citron...Enjoy!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 143 - Jas de Bouffan

Jas de Bouffan is the country manor house owned by the Cezanne family on the edge of Aix en Provence. Cezanne attended the local lycee and started studying Law at university before switching to art school. His father gave him the Grand Salon of the house for painting, and Cezanne painted murals directly on the walls which are now recreated on the tour by a strange son et lumiere experience. The house has only been opened to the public in the past 6 years, and the interior now has a sad sense of abandonment, but it was interesting to see some of these removed paintings on display in the National Gallery in London a few days later....

The approach to the house is quite impressive with a long driveway lined by tall towering plane trees, and it is interesting to see how the shadow patterns cast by these trees can change so radically over just a few hours....

The house is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area - only available by guided tour booked in advance at the Tourist Office in Aix en Provence. Check out Shadow Shot Sunday for more shadows....Enjoy!!

Weekend Reflections 7 - Jas de Bouffan

More reflections this week from the Cezanne family's country manor house "Jas de Bouffan" in Aix en Provence - a place with lovely grounds and gardens in addition to the house itself......

For more reflective photography check out Weekend Reflections......Enjoy!!

Atelier Cezanne - Aix en Provence

Aix en Provence's most famous son is Cezanne the artist, and here just fifteen minutes walk from the centre of town, is the studio that Cezanne used for the final four years of his life from 1902 - 1906. It was purpose built to the artist's own specifications and the back wall made entirely of glass lets in the soft northern light....

It is a most delightful spot to visit as it exudes so mush rustic charm and simplicity. The interior is beautifully preserved with the original furniture, easels, frames, sketchbooks, letters, photographs and still life props such as the skulls and ceramics.....

The studio is set in a wild garden with woodland, and perhaps this sepia treatment turns the clock back to evoke how it may have been in times gone by.....

Shadow Shot Sunday 142 - Aix en Provence

 The sharp light and honey-coloured stone in Aix en Provence sets the scene for some striking shadow shots in the late afternoon wandering the narrow lanes and alleys. The architecture of this stunning historic university town in the heart of Provence is most impressive. Originally the Roman town of Aquae Sextie, the University was founded in 1409 and a later burgeoning in prosperity ensured wonderful 17th and 18th century baroque architecture including the fountains in every square.....

Keep looking up at the buildings and find all the wonderful niches filled with images of the Virgin Mary and other religious figures...

The beautiful stonework and statuary continues in this interesting monument just North of the University....

And check out the way in which the honey stonework quite literally turns to gold at five in the afternoon - aptly named by photographers as the golden hour.....

For more shadow shots this week, check out Shadow Shot Sunday...Enjoy!!

Weekend Reflections 6 - Aix en Provence

The Cezanne family's countryside manor house Jas de Bouffan is the setting for this week's reflection shot - I felt like turning back the clock by steeping the scene in sepia. More on Cezanne, Jas de Bouffan, and Aix en Provence in posts later this week. In the meantime explore more artistic reflections by clicking here for the meme Weekend Reflections...Enjoy!!