Paris: Pickin Bones and the Thrill of the Hunt
Call me macabre but I find beauty in creepy things, I look for the art in science, and I am fascinated with the natural world. As you’ve seen in past blog posts, I spend some time sketching at the Natural History Museum in New York City and the Bronx Zoo. I grew up loving animals, while observing the cycle of life on the farm and during hunts with my father and Grandfather. Needless to say, I’m not too frightened by bones. On my list of things to see in Paris, of course, was the Catacombs.
It must have been on everyone else’s list too, because it was a two and half hour wait in line overlooking traffic. An artist is never bored however, to pass the time I sketched the lion sculpture in the square near by.
One hundred and thirty steps down we went…
Cold and creepy…
As in…”Slaughter House 5“?…. no this is older than that, fool!
Are they cemented together? No, that one moved when I touched it. Ahhhh, I touched it!
Feeling as though this journey is possibly too long, a sketch is in order.
Ok, time to get out of here, only 83 steps to go up and out.
Back to the land of the living; another sort of thing on my list of places to see in Paris was Deyrolle. Located somewhat near the Musee de Orsay, it’s a cabinet of curiosities full of taxidermy and my very favorite; BUGS! As you know, I have my very own wall of natural history in the studio…
After having been refused the purchase of a rather incredible specimen of a Goliath Beetle at a store that didn’t have a license to ship to the US, I was on a mission.
Deyrolle is a gorgeous store full of specimens and stuffed exotic animals. A nature lovers museum of curious things.
From birds to insects, artistic taxidermy to mummified heads. This place has everything along with books upon books of natural science study.
I did not however, find the Goliath Beetle in the exact way and size of the one I came to wish for. So here is a sketch of the Five honed Rhinoceros Beetle I bought in Japan 2002.
Next on our list of stops; a quirky and delightful Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting and Nature). The museum is housed in the Hotel de Gueneguad, a private mansion. It’s objects feature from ancient to contemporary works together, a smashup quirkiness that I aspire to in my own living space.
“WTF?!” the Owl Room…
Don’t ask questions, just back out slowly…
Called ” The Night of Diana” by contemporary Belgian artist Jan Fabre it is covered completely in owl feathers.
How about this stuffed animal in a jar? Or this cool “liquid metal inverted bust” sculpt. See the face? How very “Terminator 2” meets Beethoven.
I grew up with some good bird dogs as companions so I have a special affection for the “Salon of the Dogs” room. Dogs are just so happy to be dogs, in the worst weather even, they are so eager to hunt up a good chase.
The museum is organized around three themes: weapons, trophies and taxidermied animals as well as artistic representations of wildlife such as paintings, and furniture. Many elements I would be so happy to own in my salon.
…Not to mention some of the architectural embellishments, reminiscent of Gaudi, created specifically for this site.
Though nature may be indifferent, and sometimes down right savage…
it is beautiful, noble and sublime…
To have observed it as I have, to render it as I do and to have shared with family, friends and artists, is a gift. Paris, for many reason, was a thrill to be on the hunt for art, fashion and the creative lifestyle; with friends of like mind. To pause and to sketch is to remember and to know.
