As a start to our Grand Tour and the finale to our study of the Academy and History of Ornament, students from Mims Studios traveled to Paris, France, for a ten day study tour of the incomparable collection of art and architecture in this City of Lights.
Hightlights included a visit to the Musee D'Orsay, offering a rare opportunity to view a retrospective exhibition of Jules-Bastien Lepage. The massive interior of the Pantheon served as an inspiring setting to view the great 19th Century murals by artists as diverse as Puvis de Chavannes and Leon Bonnat. The astonishing ornamental borders by Pierre Victor Galland were an attempt to harmonize the overall effect and his own mural remains perhaps the finest of the series.
For the student of art, the Louvre is a universe unto itself. Central to our studies was a tour of the recently restored Apollo Gallery where Charles Le Brun set the tone for the reign of the Sun King, by organizing an army of French artists and artisans, creating an ensemble to rival Italian splendor.
Examining details from a mural by Blanc in the Pantheon.
Jeffrey Mims and former student Brandon Soloff in front of the imposing facade of the Pantheon
Louvre tour of the French Academy, and its precursor Vouet.
A look at Poussin's final painting.
Jeffrey Mims and instructor Mari DeRuntz discuss the painting (above) by
Jean-Germain Drouais - one of David's most promising students.
St. Chapelle, one of the many churches visited,
with abundant examples of gothic and romanesque ornament.