My weekend adventure at Aix-en-Provence, France (day 1 afternoon) - The Museum Granet - The 20th of January 2017

As I moved along Rue d'Italie there were certain sights that reminded me of Toulouse inspite of the ovious differences.

Before visiting the permanent Art collection I walked into a temporary exhibition by Olivier Bernex,  which under normal circumstances I wouldn't have gone to because of the modernity of the artistic approach though I must recognise that I ended up liking it, namely due to the profusion of colours and the Henri Rousseau references therewith associated. 

La Révolution du Printemps - 2012-2014 - acrilic on canvas

Seconde promenade - Chutes de pierres enneigées - 2010 - acrilic on canvas

"... J'ai appris ainsi par ma propre expérience que la source du vrai bonheur est en nous ..." - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1777

Sixième Promenade - Monde hostile - 2011 - Acrilic on canvas

"Il est des sortes d'aversités qui élèvent et renforcent l'âme, mais il en est qui l'abattent et la tuent ... Le séctacle de l'injustice et la méchanté me fait bouillir le sanf de colère." - Jean-Jacques Rousseau - 1777

Dixième Promenade - Éveils préromantiques - August 2011 - acrilic on canvas

"J'ai passé soixante et dix ans sur terre et j'ai vécu sept." - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, inachevée, 1778

Ma treizième rêverie - Cosmogenie - 2013 - Acrilic on canvas

From that exhibit room I walked up onto the first floor having come across another fairly interesting temporary exhibit by Henri Cueco, whose artisitc apporaches were after several other famous painters' compositions.

L' énlèvement des Sabines - crayon and acrilic on canvas after Nicolas Poussin's.

Bethsabée au bain after Rembrandt and Paul Cézanne's

Baigneuses d'après Cézanne's

I finally made it to the Francois-Marius Granet's room in which several paintings caught my attention.

Intérieur d'un salle d'asile - 1844 oil on canvas

Le Cloître de Sainte-Marie-des-Anges - 1849 oil on canvas.

L'école des soeurs - oil on canvas - acquired by the city of Aix in 1988

Jean-August-Dominique Ingres - 1807 oil on canvas

Rome - Vue du couvent Saint-Bonaventure à travers une arcade du Colisée - 1849 oil on canvas

Le sommeil - 1849 oil on canvas

Jean-Auguste Dominique ingres - Étude d'homme assis de profil - oil on canvas

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres - Jupiter et Thétis

Moissons à Chambaudoin by Pierre-Edmond-Alexandre Hédouin (1820-1889)

La levée du camp de Midi - oil on canvas by Emile Loubon (1809-1863)

Les menons en tête d'un troupeau en Camargue by Émile Loubon

I finally walked back down to visit a room filled with sculptures, though the ones I was drawn to were some of the smaller framed ones hanging on the side walls and a bust, which immediately drew me back to some similar sculpted busts I had seen at a Museum in Bournemouth.

La prise de Damiette by Jean-Pancrace Chastel  - 1754/57 marble

Poèmes idylliques païens - 1889/1904 by Jean-Antoine Injalbert

I really enjoyed the number of hours I spent at the Museum, whose extended exhibit premises under the name of Jean Planque Collection, some streets further down I'd also have access to with the same entrance ticket.

My weekend adventure at Aix-en-Provence, France - (Day 1 late morning) - Along the Cours Mirabeau; The Oblats' Church - The 20th of January 2017

I reached Marseille fairly early in the morning having taken a bus direct to Aix-en- Provence where I had intended to spend the long weekend.

From the Bus terminal I walked up Rue des Alumettes, where the Grand Thêatre de Provence was located, so as to reach the Hotel Artea. Feeling the cosy atmosphere of the lodging I hesitated to go out straight away though I ended up forcing myself particularly because I had planned to visit the Museum Granet.

The outside luminosity was rather exquisite and despite the cold it felt like a Spring day. I had read about the numerous street fountains and in no time came across the huge 1860 Fontaine de la Rotonde with its three imposing statues representing Justice (looking towards the city), Agriculture towards Marseille and Beaux Arts Avignon.

Soon after as I was heading to Place Géneral De Gaulle I came across a statue representing Cézanne, which instinctively reminded me of the importance Provence had on a number of painters.

Cours Mirabeau, connecting the old city with the Mazarin quarte,r was clearly at the centre of the city bustling. I had never imagined I'd come across such a beautiful leafless tree lined pedestrian avenue with quite a few fountains and majestic 17th and 18th century buildings, amongst which I would highlight the Hotel Maurel de Monteves because of its magnificent façade.

Before turning into Rue d'Italie one could see the imposing statue of the "good King René", King of Naples and Sicily, Duke of Bar, Anjou and Lorraine, as well as Count of Provence (1434-1480), whose role was noteworthy.

On the right hand side stood the 1695 Chapel of the Oblats de Marie, which formerly pertained to the order of the Carmelites' convent. What impressed me most was the light that came out from the oval dome and a rather interesting cribb with small figures from the various continents.