Saint Germain en Laye
A Royal Outing with Plebian Pleasures
At the western end of the first Parisian railway, now the RER A rapid transit line, Saint Germain en Laye is 12 miles and a far world away from the hassle and pollution of the capital. Perched above a meander … Read More
Le Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval
The House the Postman Built
You have probably heard of the Watts Towers in Los Angeles, but have you heard of the Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval in France? Both are amazing structures, each one built by an ordinary man in the grip of an … Read More
Madame du Barry
Gutter to Glitter to Guillotine
Madame du Barry, the last Maîtresse en Titre, or Official Mistress, of Louis XV of France, was famous for her beauty, charm and extravagance. She was also a friend of Voltaire and a patron of the arts, a fashion icon … Read More
William Morris: Art in Everything & Roubaix Save the Queen
Threads Linking France and Britain
For much of the 19th century, Britannia ruled not just the waves but most of the known world. Presiding over a vast colonial empire with an unrivaled productive capacity, Great Britain imposed its hegemony pretty much everywhere and on everybody. … Read More
La Fondation du Doute
When in Doubt, Make Art
The words “ebullient” and “irrepressible” are weak when it comes to Ben, the 87-year-old Fluxus artist, who showed up last week at the Fondation de Doute (Doubt Foundation) art center in Blois to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Fluxus … Read More
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