MuseumChick | Danee Gilmartin

The other day I was in Paris, venturing to the Musée de Louvre's late night opening. Walking from the artsy Marais district to the Louvre I passed the Hôtel de Ville. The regal Hôtel de Ville usually has people gathered around in front enjoying the weather and this time I spotted a picture of Charles de Gaulle made up of a collage of small portraits to make the one big portrait of de Gaulle.

It is hanging to commemorate the 70th anniversary of General de Gaulle's speech from a radio station in London in 1940. The Appeal of June 18 is considered the origin of French resistance against the German occupation of France during World War II. 

It is considered one of the most important speeches in French history.

The photographs of 1,016 men and women were Companions of the Resistance.

Along the façade of the Hôtel de Ville hangs the French and American flags, layered together. 

An allegorical figure, Art, is by sculptor, Laurent Marqueste.

There is a small temporary center/museum in front of the Hôtel de Ville explaining about the Companions of the Resistance and the de Gaulle portrait. Although it is open until 8:00pm, I got there at 7:30pm and in French time, that means it's closed. So, I didn't go inside and continued to my favorite spot, the Louvre.

©2010 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved

When everybody at home is gorging themselves on BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs while waiting for fireworks, I'll be celebrating the United States Independence Day from Paris with wine and cheese (because hotdogs are hard to find here).

Thinking of home during the 4th of July prompted me to recall my visit last February to Washington DC and the Capitol Building with my aunt and cousin. My history buff cousin organized getting us a tour of the Capitol Building (my first time there) and later that day we museum hopped at the largest museum complex in the world, the Smithsonian. 

The tour was interesting and inspired more patriotism in me and I learned a few interesting facts that I want to share with you; Here is a sort of Independence Day trivia-

Soon after the construction of both wings of the Capitol Building it was burned by the British during the War of 1812. The Capitol Building made a comeback with the addition of the center Rotunda which would be the first dome of the Capitol Building and was completed in 1826. The design of the dome can be attributed to Charles Bulfinch, an American architect known for his federal style architecture. He succeeded Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe, a British born American, that has been called the "Father of American Architecture". He is responsible for Greek revival architecture in America and designed the Capitol building earlier.

On the interior of the dome, artist Constantino Brumidi painted the fresco titled, The Apotheosis of Washington. Brumidi was born in Rome and was then nationalized as a US citizen in 1852.

The tour took us around the walls of the Rotunda and discussed the paintings and statues. Walking around the Rotunda, there are eight paintings that depict the development of the United States. On the east side are four paintings depicting major events in the discovery of America, such as the Baptism of Pocahontas. 

On the west are four paintings depicting the founding of the United States, such as West Side Surrender of General Burgoyne.

 
For more info about the Capitol Building- Architect of the Capitol is a great site.

Happy Fourth of July America!

Have an extra hotdog for me here in Paris!

©2010 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved