Monday, April 09, 2007

Centaurus by César


Everyone has heard of Rodin and his fabulous sculptures, but we have many more famous sculptors here in France! Hence, César (full name: César Baldaccini) who is famous for his car "compressions" (big modern sculptures made of compressed cars) and for his César du cinéma, the equivalent to the Oscars in the US. Here is one of his works of art that I photographed at the Place Michel Debré (6th arrondissement) in the Saint-Germain area. PS: Very quiet weekend here in Paris, the weather is fantastic but I have to work...

30 comments:

  1. Thanks for the link to the Cesars. Since I'm a big movie fan and the Oscars are my favorite time of year, I can try to keep up now with the French as well. Quite some statue he created, eh?

    I am just a bit behind on my French cinema. I just saw The Sorrow and the Pity last week!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the colours in this, Eric, the pink and blue contrasting with the stark grey of the beautiful Rodin piece. You never disappoint!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lynn, unless I understood incorret, this sculpture was created by César Baldaccini, not Rodin. Is that right Eric?

    This angle is great, looks like he's about to smash us with his big feet! I'd like to check this statue on the 6th, as well as Musée Rodin which I didn't have time to visit last time.

    I'm glad to hear the weather is great there Eric and hope you had a productive week end since you had so much work. I really miss reading some of your comments, hope everything is ok with you!

    Have a nice week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hmm, I have not seen this sculpture, I'll have to look for it. Fascinating piece. I love it. Ou est cette sculpture dans le 6eme, Eric?

    Monica, I definitely recommend le Musee Rodin. The garden is lovely. There are some great paintings on the second floor, gifts to M. Rodin from artists. I remember the Van Gogh. Also plaster molds for several famous sculptures: The Cathedral, and The Kiss.

    And,Philly, I'm still trying to figure out how to meet up. I'll be at l'Hotel Les Jardins du Luxembourg. I might suggest a perfect cafe on the north side of Place St. Sulpice, in the 6th.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jeff, thanks, it's definetely on my to do list!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Why does this sculpture remind me of this painting, and why do I suddenly feel like playing a game of petanque?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Monica you are right. I was up far too late as usual! Petanque? Count me in.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The shame is that I have not been to the Rodin in Philadelphia! I wanted to change that before I arrive in Paris, the time is really going fast now, with not enough time for everything. I took the day off Friday and today, but for other pursuits.

    Jeff
    I am a first time visitor to Paris.......email me marez2000@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is like no centaur that I have ever seen. A human leg? Looks weird. Sorry but that Cesar statuette doesn't compare with Oscar. The cesar looks like a bunch of compressed cans from the supermarket. It looks like a clumsy piece to wave around after winning it. I do want to see the statue in the 6th.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tall Gary, what is your point that I am missing? What does that painting from the Cafe have to do with this sculpture and petanque? Hmmmm It is a stretch but perhaps I can guess.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oops..Sorry Tall Gary, I enlarged the photo. Now I see the connection. Annnd, this centaur has two sets. Kind of a duel-purpose equipped centaur. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have seen this statue on several trips to Paris, and I agree with Tall Gary that it is very "impressive". I think that the view from the back is even more "impressive". My kids on the other hand think it is hilarious...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Now that's and centuar with some balls! Although he looks a bit nuts to me. What's that in his hand? I bet he'd get teste if I tried to take it for a look. Perhaps it's a large, old diamond or other valuable family jewels?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'll have to find out more about his work. Thanks for introducing him to us. I love the angle of this shot!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hmm! Do I really see what I think I'm seeing. Quite a piece of work!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. lol Soosh! I think those are his easter eggs.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sorry you have to work on a holiday WE, Eric.

    On the other hand, if "work" means hanging out by the pool with pretty girls in posh lofts, eating fancy food, etc., well, it can't be all that bad ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tell me about it Tomate...

    However, a fantastic, sunny, warm weekend in Paris is a dream.

    ReplyDelete
  19. ...and hanging out with pretty girls anywhere, in any weather, is heaven!

    ReplyDelete
  20. You all are so funny. I popped by here quickly last night. I enlarged the photo to look at his toes and got an eyeful of something else entirely! (hee hee) When I logged on today, I see many others noticed too!

    ReplyDelete
  21. you should change it in "EDIT HTML" and the search this part:

    body {
    font: $bodyFont;
    text-align: center;
    margin: 0px;
    padding: 0px;
    background-color: #CCCCCC;
    color: $textColor;
    background: $bgColor;
    }


    change with this:



    body {
    font: $bodyFont;
    text-align: center;
    margin: 0px;
    padding: 0px;
    background-color: #CCCCCC;
    color: $textColor;
    background: url('http://www.blogblog.com/dots/bg_dots.gif');
    }

    let me know if this still not working :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow Vrjunkyard you sure know how to scare the Lynns of the world with all that.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hey, everyone. I have been so busy (working on my new PDP layout Tomate (not hanging out by a pool Tomate LOL).

    But I had some nice break in the sun for, as Michael pointed it, the weather in Paris was really wonderful.

    So Jeff, you're counting the days right?! I see your French is really improving.

    On today's post: call me blind, but I did not notice these two "details" everybody apparently noticed when I took the pic !!

    Back to work tomorrow. Short week but busy week.

    ReplyDelete
  24. ANd BTW Vrjunkyard thanks very much (Lynn, don't worry, this is language only Vrjunkyard and I - and a couple of other geeks! - can understand!)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Okay Eric, i'll come out from the cupboard now then....:(

    ReplyDelete
  26. Such as myself. Although Eric's lying to you, lynn. It's really a secret internet recipe to take over the work and create a total state of anarchy. It's the geek version causing an uprising! See, Eric is planning on taking over the world, and PDP will become the official homepage of every single person who owns a computer and can access the internet.

    ReplyDelete
  27. work=world. Sorry, it's very overcast here today, which is making me very sleepy. I'm not even gonna look for other typos.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Eric

    Great to see this beautiful statue. I published a photo of the Monaco version in March in Monte Carlo DP. Perhaps you'd like to see it:

    http://monte-carlo-daily-photo.blogspot.com/2007/03/csar.html

    Jilly x

    ReplyDelete
  29. I saw that years ago but it had a tail made in the form of a broom and shovel. We lost César R.I.P.
    I love the Les Lalannes.

    ReplyDelete