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 As I'm currently trying to recover from my jet lag (It always takes me ages!) I don't think I've ever showed you an interesting piece of art by sculptor Arman called "L'heure de tous" that has been installed in front of the Gare Saint Lazare in 1985 (which explains the little pigeon "offerings" that you can see on it...). The clocks don't actually work, they are just for the purpose of the sculpture. Incidentally, today is also the day Americans switch to give up DST (Daylight Saving Time) and return to normal time, so if you're from the US, everything should be back to normal with Europe and PDP in particular! Have a great Sunday.
 Have giants taken over Paris while I was away?! No, it's only a few pieces of the work that sculptor Rabarama from Italy is currently showing in the 5th arrondissement on the occasion of La Fiac, the international modern art fair that takes place every year in Paris.I came across one of them on Place du Pantheon while I was struggling with the current terrible winter weather that I reconnected with, today ;)
 I took this photo at the base of a stunning sculpture called Le marchand de masques (the mask seller). Created by Zacharie Astruc (1835-1907), it can be found in the Luxembourg gardens, near the entrance on the Panthéon side. The interesting part about it is that the masks were actually made to resemble famous French people (Victor Hugo, Gustave Corot, Alexandre Dumas, Hector Berlioz...), which makes discovering this artwork even more exciting.
 This scene may look like a painting, but it's a sculpture made by Raymond Mason, a sculptor of British origins who settled down in Paris in 1946. It's called " Le départ des fruits et légumes du cœur de Paris, le 28 février 1969" (the leaving of fruit and vegetables from the heart of Paris on February 28,1969). This "heart" he is refering to, is Les Halles, the central market of Paris that was installed in the center of Paris in... 1135! When it became too small, in the early 70's they transfered it to Rungis, in the suburbs of Paris. But the name Les Halles, still remains. BTW, you'll never believe it, but I did not find this sculpture in a museum, but in the Saint Eustache church nearby!
 I'm currently very busy because of my work, but I still try to save some time to make interesting discoveries. Hence these wonderful statues showing "the children of the world" (Naomi the African, Jim the American, Felipe the Mexican [in the foreground in this photo]... - see the 21 of them in this little Animoto video and on the " official site" [in French]) made by Rachid Khimoune, a French artist of Berber origins. Really beautiful. Some of you may think I could have showed this earlier, as apparently these statues have been there (in the Bercy area) since... 2001! But I swear, I never saw them before! The other interesting part is that each of these statues has a replica located in its "country of birth". A definite must see if you come to Paris.
 Quite often, people who plan to come to Paris email me to ask me for tips about what they should do or see while they are here, thinking I surely know of some monument or museum carefully concealed to foreigners! Guess what? Today I have one: le Musée Antoine Bourdelle. Of course, you can find it in many guide books I'm sure, but I confess I had never heard of it. And if it weren't for an eye exam that I had to take on the same street (rue Antoine Bourdelle, of course!) I would have never visited it. Anyway, it's a great place if you like sculpture (Bourdelle worked with Rodin, for what it's worth!) and the venue is fantastic too. BTW, you're looking at Madeleine Charnaux's bust - one of the 1st French female airplane pilots - made with 3 different materials (2 in bronze and one in resin). More - bad! - photos here!
 It's a classic, but every time I pass by it, I can't help admiring this superb fountain, made of two sets of huge metal balls that reflect part of Le Palais Royal where it is installed (in the Cour d'Orleans, more precisely). It was made by Belgian sculptor Pol Bury, who died in 2005 at 85. I love the fuzzy couple in the background.
 This photo is dedicated to Zsolt and Zannni from Budapest Daily Photo... Why? Because I took this photo last evening (Thursday) in front of... the Paris Hungarian Center, located on the rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondissement (not exactly the worst address in Paris!). This center is dedicated to the promotion of the Hungarian culture (and language) and I suppose this sculpture was made by a Hungarian artist (but I have found nothing on the web about this). Anyway, I think it's cool they actually put it in front of the building as if it were a real bench. I don't know the lady next to the bronze one ; she just nicely told me "you can take your picture, I don't mind being on a blog!" Nice encounter.
 You probably know "Filet mignon", the thick cut from the tenderloin which is also often referred to as Chateaubriand. Well Chateaubriand (François René, was his first name) was not a famous chef but... a writer and a politician who lived a fascinating, adventurous life, between 1768 and 1848. The kind of guys that make your life look totally dull (check all what he's done here)! His most famous book is probably Mémoire d'Outre-tombe, but I never read it. I found his bust in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, but he has several others including one in Saint Malo, his hometown. PS: sorry for this "reprint", as you may have noticed the first time I posted this photo, it did not show...
 Look what I've found for you today! A unique sculpture that can only be seen in Paris in this particular gallery - precisely called "Galerie Pièce Unique". If I'm right, this masterpiece was made by an artist called Cyrille André (funny picture of him here). The gallery is located in the 6th arrondissement, rue Mazarine where a lot of art can be found.
 My loyal readers, I thought it was about time I showed you a photo of my house... Pretty cool, no? I know, it might look a little ostentatious to you, but I like it and, in fact, it's much cosier than what it looks! OK, OK, yes, it's not my house, it is the main building of the Augustus Rodin museum (yes, Rodin, again!). It was formerly the Hôtel Biron, built between 1728 and 1730 by Jean Aubert, the same architect who built the Chateau at Chantilly. Rodin agreed to leave all of his works to the French state in exchange for a building of its own. After finally agreeing through an act in Parliament, this building became the resting place for Rodin's work and was opened in 1919. And that will be my last photo on Rodin for while, I promise!
 As I relax along the beach, I'm thinking of you and where you might be spending holidays this year. I almost feel like I'll be insulting your intelligence by explaining this statue, but for those of you who may not know, it is one of Auguste Rodin's most famous sculptures, called Le Penseur ( the Thinker). Did you know that it was originally called Le Poète (the Poet)? And did you know you could find its replica in... Sarasota?! I could not believe this.
 Bons baisers de Floride! If you've been to Paris, you've seen this fountain, I'm sure. You may not know, howerver, that Niki de Saint Phalle, artist of this kinetic sculpture, spent her childhood in New York, and returned to Paris only in 1951. She, along with artist and husband Jean Tinguely, joined the New Realist group in 1961 and began works of quite a unique distinction. As I mentioned here (in May 2005) this is located in the Stravinsky fountain in the 3rd arrondissement.
 I couldn't help smiling when I saw this Nymph in the Louvre gardens 3 days ago. She looks so modern, so inviting, that it's hard to believe she was sculpted in 1930. Anyway as you probably have guessed already her "father" is Aristide Maillol and you cannot miss her if you wander around the Louvre (not far away from the Pyramid). It's Monday, in 2 days I'll be on the plane, far, far away from Paris...
 Since you apparently all like the musée Rodin let me show you one of my favorite sculptures there: un bourgeois de Calais (a burgher of Calais). Calais is a city in the north of France which was besieged by British King Edward III in 1347. To free the city he was offered the life of 6 inhabitants (burghers) that he finally did not kill (read the captivating story here). In 1884, the city ordered Rodin a sculpture depicting this historical episode; it became the famous Bourgeois de Calais. The original is in Calais of course, but there are 12 copies throughout the world: Rodin museum, Copenhagen, London... and also studies in Stanford University that I had the occasion to photograph last June while I was in Silicon Valley.
 If you're looking for a quiet garden to rest while you're visiting Le Marais, may I recommend you sit on a bench in Le Square Georges Cain, between the rue du Parc Royal and the rue des Francs Bourgeois. It's a beautiful little square in the middle of which you will undoubtedly fall for Aurore (Dawn), a sculpture by Laurent Magaier who apparently lived in the 17th century. Richard Nahem, who took me there during his tour, said I should come back at night, for this statue is beautifully lit. Click here for a broader view.
 Of course this sculpture could never make it up to the newly elected wonder of the world Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer Statue (see more on Monica's blog ;)) but let me assure you that it is really breathtaking. I found it by sheer coincidence while I was looking for something to photograph in the Invalides. I have been unable to find out if it was made after the 1521 painting of Hans Holbein le Jeune - whose painting is actually in Basel, in Switzerland - and/or if a different artist made it. Anyway, if you're around the Invalides one of these days, it's worth visiting the chapel, just to see this stunning piece of art.
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