St Mary's Calne
Over Half Term, the A Level History of Art students went to Paris, for a wonderful cultural experience (as well as a spot of sightseeing!).
Arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon, we went for a delicious dinner in a nearby restaurant as soon as we had unpacked, allowing us to soak in the atmosphere of Paris, and this continued when we then visited Montmartre. Seeing the streets that had been home to Paris’ avant-garde movement was amazing, and was a valuable experience in understanding an area associated with artists like Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Brancusi, and many more.
The next morning, we headed to the Musée Picasso. The visit was an opportunity to see the collected work of an artist we have several Modernist case studies on, and to understand Picasso’s striking stylistic changes over the years, with his periods such as Cubism, Neoclassicism, and Surrealist influence, all in one place. Particularly fascinating and relevant to our course was the room displaying his paintings of women, in which his 1937 portraits of Dora Maar were directly opposite his contrasting portrait of Marie-There Walter from the same year, reflecting the artistic renewal his partners each inspired.
From there, we travelled to the Foundation Louis Vuitton for their enormous Mark Rothko retrospective. Trailing to the top of the building, room by room, we took in the power of Rothko’s monumental canvases as we followed the progression of his career. It was a very special experience that gave us insight into artistic innovation that occurred after the period of our course, built on the foundations of the works we study.
Finally, we went to the Pompidou Centre, which housed such a vast collection it was almost overwhelming - and completely incredible. Trailing through each room, we were particularly struck by the works of Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Mondrian, Matisse, Kandinsky, Duchamp, Marie Laurencin, Warhol and more. Seeing the work of Matisse, our specified painter, was particularly valuable, from his Odalisques to Jeune Fille au Chat Noir and casts of his Back series. These first two days were an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in Modern works and the unique atmosphere of Paris that influenced artists in this period.
The next day after breakfast, we all trooped off to the Louvre. The outside space with its glass pyramid and elaborate façade was impressive, despite the crowds. The first piece of art was the magnificent Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient sculpture that towered over us despite its missing head. The walk to the Da Vinci room was amazing as we passed an extensive variety of art causing great discussion and an opportunity to learn. The massive Wedding Feast at Cana contrasted with the modest scale of the Mona Lisa, who had a large crowd of people gazing at her. We were thrilled to view a couple of our case studies first hand and to experience seeing them out of the classroom. We were particularly struck by the Renaissance portrait of Baldassare Castiglione, who was presented in a wise and courtly manner.
Later we went to the Musee d’Orsay, once a railway station and now housing an iconic collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. We loved seeing so many famous paintings, from Manet to Van Gogh, and often were surprised at how different they were when being viewed in real life.
We experienced the glitter and glitz of the Champs-Élysées and walked to the Arc de Triomphe in the evening, walking under the arch and stopping to admire the architecture and statues.
Our last morning was spent sightseeing and exploring independently. We wandered around, admiring the cobbled streets and busy cafes of Paris. Sadly, by midday it was time to return after a wonderful four days in Paris; our thanks to Dr Wickson and Miss LeCamp for giving up their time and organising this trip for us.
Maya N and Ellie D, UVI