Friday, March 16, 2007

Caron de Beaumarchais


Enough religion, sex, and food, let's deal with culture now... (Don't yawn!). You're looking at Pierre-Auguste Caron de Beaumarchais, a famous French writer and politician who lived between 1732 ans 1799. He wrote The Marriage of Figaro and the Barber of Seville (that have been adapted for the opera later) and he sort of supported the "Americans" against the Brits during the war of independence (he actually sold then weapons, but still!!)

26 comments:

  1. Ok Eric, your order is my command. Let's talk about culture!

    Although, I can almost guess this post will attract such topics as war, americans, french and brits...

    So they'll be saying "first religion, then death, sex, food and now war" !!

    You didn't mention where this statue is located in Paris?

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  2. An excellent movie was made about a slice of Beaumarchais' life. I have watched it several times. It starred Fabrice Luchini...I love his acting. It is called "Beaumarchais, L'insolent". It was released in 1997 and won several awards. If you love period films, you'll enjoy this one. I must see the statue in May.

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  3. Forgot to tell you. Fabrice Luchini was one of the stars in the new movie "Moliere" which I found fascinating. I wish I understood French better than I do but I managed to struggle through it.

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  4. Hmm against me, huh? Well that wasn't very polite, was it (she said in typically understated British way). Great photo though. Goodness what subject could possibly be next i wonder. Time to find another ironing competition, i reckon, Eric...

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  5. ET: Don't you know religion, sex and food is our culture!
    Monica: I suppose it's fitting he ended the week with the topic of war. Perhaps his message is "make love, not war".
    BTW: beautiful, clear blue sky in that shot. Very inviting.

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  6. OK, where is the guys' left foot? Did someone eat it?

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  7. Well if he wrote 'Figaro' and 'The Barber of Seville', and if he fits into the French demographic, then plainly we can conclude he got lucky more than 7 times a month!

    I mean, if 7 is just the mean average, there's some lucky guys on the high end of the scale out seducing the beauties of Paris probably 21 nights out of the month.

    Just basic math... no doubt that's what inspired him to write 'The Marriage of Figaro'. That's probably why he's taken up such a commanding pose, c'est nes pas?

    LOL!

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  8. Monica,

    It is in the 4th. You've probably seen my photo of it when you looked at my pictures.

    If you stay in that apartment I recommended, you'll pass right by him regularly!

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  9. Susan thanks! I saw so many of your pictures that I probably forgot about that one. Oh that apartment... I'm still dreaming of it, but it seems the dates I want aren't available :-(

    Going through your album was a delight you know!

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  10. Well...I love food and culture and his stance is impressive, most likely because of his beautiful name, "Beaumarchais"!!

    Eric, the photo of the front of "Au Pied de Cochon" from yesterday was superbe!! My new wallpaper!

    WOW!! I didn't realize how many fans of PDP there were in the SF/Bay area!! Tomate, KP, Manu, Rickemmanuel, and Buzzgirl!!! Buzzgirl is correct, if you come to SF we will GUARANTEE a good time for you!! I'll have a pied de cochon if we can find one, but I don't think I'll be a part of the "Chicken Feet" experience!! LOL!! Are there anymore PDP fans in San Francisco??? Reveal yourselves...come on!!! ;-)

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  11. "Beaumarchais L'Insolent" Johnny - precisely the expression that his stance conveys but with Auguste and Beau.. in his name, obviously in his breeding. Speaking of which, I confess to having some French blood on the paternal side (3 generations back) - apparently my shipowning French family left France during the revolution and elected to settle for Kent UK, rather than for the guillotine.
    I remember on my first arrival at Heathrow Airport, a charming Brit saying to me (aged 19), "welcome home luv" and I said "thank you, I think". Gosh, Lynn has me speaking in dialogue when I am such an amateur.

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  12. He's definitely got the style with those tight pants, and I love that arrogant stance! Johnny, I tried to order that film on Netflix - they have about 7 of his other films but not that one :(

    Mme Benaut: So funny about the "welcome home" comment. When I was at a tour at the Tower of London, our tourguide said the same thing to the Australian contingent in our group - must be an English thing... Lynn??

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  13. For kpgallant - Louis la Vache has been sighted in the SF Bay Area from time to time.....

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  14. Vraiment Louis??? Well, I am also an American of "French ancestry"...so if you are headed this way, please send an email and oh..yes, could you bring some "real Camembert" with you??? Hide it in your toiletries or someplace. Not "Le Chatelain" though..we can get that here! LOL!! Merci! ;-)

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  15. to sell weapons and to write romantic novels. I guess this guy tried to be very balanced:)

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  16. I don't know about this, Pont Girl and Mme. I wouldn't dream of saying to an Australian "welcome home" and as for the "luv" well never in a million years (she said very snobbishly) lol! It was a pleasant gesture i suppose. I'm just pleased you had polite experience in the UK, something of which we are missing quite often, sadly. Most usually, you would receive a slight raise of the eyebrows and a grunt, if anything at all. Excuse my cynicism, i've come straight from Robyn's (link at my Things UK blog) where i've been winding up mercilessly like a very naughty girl indeed (sorry Mme) though i say again, not without just cause. LOL.

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  17. tomate, yes! The poor pig that lost his foot so that eric could have his photo yesterday decided to take his revenge on this man!

    Erm...it kinda looks like his pants are ripped...Is the package too large for the wrapping?

    Sorry, it does look that way, even whenI pull up the full sized. I guess it probably something mundane like oddly placed bird dropping or some weird damage to the statue. But still, it looks kinda comical!

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  18. Here's a photo gallery of the area around St. Paul's church which includes many of the places mentioned in the posts the other day.

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  19. bg, great link bg! I never get tired of looking at pictures from Paris. I once read that it is the most photographed city in the world!

    It doesn´t surprise me!

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  20. I think they should build a statue for Sarkozy and ask him to withdraw from the elections.

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  21. Getting back to politics - the "Marriage of Figaro" was of course very subversive in it's day, Seen by some as a precursor to the French revolution of 1789 and by association the American one. This is something which people often miss when seeing Mozarts Opera of the same name. Mozart was in tune with Beaumarchais' ideas, and he collaborated with da Ponte who produced eth libretto, but often today the opera is seen as a mere comedy of manners (and sex). Does La Republique need an up to date allegory? Is Eric hinting at something?

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  22. Richard, I was thinking about that. If we think about the fact that The Marriage of Figaro was considered pro revolution - what a shock it must have been to have a plot where servants rebeled against their masters - and then ajouter it with his support to americans, I can't help but conclude he had an agenda when he wrote The marriage.. he certainly knew what nerve he was trying to hit.

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