The Thinker, Rodin

Art in Paris with Marie-Thérèse Hill & Guest Lecturer Douglas Skeggs 14th – 18th April 2016

The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Tours

Fontainebleau Palace Art in Paris With Marie-Thérèse Hill & Guest Lecturer Douglas Skeggs 14th – 18th April 2016

Contact Sophie Pullan Direct Line 020 7386 4677 Telephone 020 7386 4620 Fax 020 7386 8652 Email [email protected]

Marie-Thérèse Hill Marie-Thérèse was born in Vienna and now lives in Hampshire. She was educated at the French Lycée and a language school in Switzerland, studied Piano in Vienna and is fluent in French, English, German and Italian. Her familiarity with European culture and extensive contacts worldwide are reflected in her unique tours.

Douglas Skeggs Douglas Skeggs read fine art at Magdalene College, Cambridge and since 1980 has been a lecturer on the history and techniques of painting. He has made several art documentaries and written and advised on many more. An accomplished painter in his own right, three one-man exhibitions of his work. His biography of Monet, River of Light: Monet’s Impressions of the Seine, sold 65,000 copies, and he has also written several novels.

Detailed Itinerary

For centuries, the city of Paris has been at the forefront of intellectual and artistic enlightenment. However, it was the period from the 1830s onwards that saw the most far-reaching developments in painting - the move towards impressionism - which this illuminating tour examines.

Not only do we study the development of the Barbizon School and their progression from realism to painting 'en plein air' with visits to the homes of Millet and Rousseau together with the Musée Départemental des Peintres in Barbizon, followed by the nearby magnificent Chateau of Fontainebleau built by Francois I. But we also examine some of the most important masterpieces of the period in leading and specialist galleries alike. These include the Musée Marmottan and Musée de l’Orangerie, which both house examples of Monet’s panoramic cycle of paintings, the Nymphéas (Water Lilies), and other contemporary works. We also visit the Musée Delacroix and the Musée Rodin, housed in the finely preserved former homes of the painter and sculptor, a remarkable feast for the eyes.

There will be a private dinner in a restored 18th-century hôtel with an introduction by the owner to its art collection dating from 1728 and also opportunities to attend a performance at the magnificent L’Opéra Garnier or the Symphonic Hall, part of Philharmonie de Paris, designed by Jean Nouvel and opened in January 2015.

Fontainebleau Palace The Gleaners by Jean-François Millet

Day 1: Thursday, 14th April London / Paris Depart London Kings Cross St. Pancras on a late morning Eurostar train to Paris Gare du Nord arriving in the early afternoon. Transfer to Hotel Westminster, a four star hotel a stone’s throw from the Place Vendôme, the Opera and the Tuileries gardens, and where four nights are spent. Introductory walking tour before returning to the hotel for pre-dinner drinks with an introductory lecture by Douglas Skeggs followed by dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 2: Friday, 15th April Paris, Barbizon & Fontainebleau Leave by coach to Barbizon, nestled on the western edge of Fontainebleau. Barbizon gave its name to the 19th century school of landscape painters who paved the way for the Impressionists movement. Here visit the home and studio of Jean-François Millet (1814 –1875), one of the founders of the Barbizon school and part of the naturalism and realism movements. He was noted for his scenes of peasant farmers and the studio was where he painted his renowned The Gleaners. Visit the Musée Départemental des Peintres de Barbizon including the L’Auberge Ganne which was the centre of artistic life. The Auberge Ganne, opened around 1824 and became the temporary home to all the Barbizon artists. Examples of the artists' work are everywhere including the walls in the bedrooms which were used as sketchbooks. They are covered with small landscapes, pictures of hunting dogs, even portraits. The large dormitory, where the artists slept has been transformed into an art gallery, with paintings of the forest, the plain and animal life by the likes of Diaz, Rousseau and Daubigny. There is also a study of the forest by Corot. Continue to the house of Pierre Étienne Théodore Rousseau (1812–1867) considered to be one of the greatest landscape painters of his time. Rousseau first came to the forest of Fontainebleau in 1827 and later became the main figure of the Barbizon school. Early on, he stayed at the Auberge Ganne, but later he transformed a barn into his home and studio, where he died in 1867. The studio home of Théodore Rousseau is now a branch of the Département Museum and this small dwelling now pays homage to its former owner.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Fontainebleau. Afternoon visit to Fontainebleau Palace, one of the largest French royal châteaux, built by François I in the 16th century who imported artists from Italy to decorate the interiors including Rosso Fiorentino, a student of Michelangelo. Work on the palace was continued by many successive French monarchs, building onto the original structure, and the building is arranged around a series of courtyards. Visit the gardens (weather dependent) which were first laid out by François I. Henri IV later added the water feature, dubbed the Tibre, Le Nôtre rearranged the whole into geometric gardens and in 1812 Napoleon ordered English gardens to be planted around the Fontaine Belle-Eau. Return to the hotel. Dinner under own arrangements. This evening there is the option to attend a performance at the magnificent L’Opéra Garnier or newly opened Symphonic Hall at the Philharmonie de Paris.

Jardin du Luxembourg Musée Rodin

Day 3: Saturday, 16th April Paris Morning visit to the Musée national Eugène Delacroix, also known as the Musée Delacroix, an art museum dedicated to painter Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863). The museum is located in painter Eugène Delacroix's last apartment and contains Delacroix's memorabilia and works, exhibiting pictures from nearly every phase of his career, including the artist's only three attempts at fresco from Valmont (1834); the Education of the Virgin painted in Nohant in 1842; and Magdalene in the Desert exhibited at the 1845 Salon. Continue on foot to Jardin du Luxembourg which was created in 1612 by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV

of France. It covers 23 hectares and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, the model sailboats on its circular basin, and for the picturesque Medici Fountain, built in 1620.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Continue to Musée Rodin housed in Hôtel Biron (1731), one of the most charming and best-preserved mansions in Paris from this period, fitted with distinguished facades overlooking the front courtyard and back gardens. When Auguste Rodin moved here in 1908, aged 68, it was agreed that he would leave the State his works after he died. One room of the house is dedicated to sculptor Camille Claudel, Rodin’s mistress and model for La France and L’Aurore, and includes some examples of her own work before she went mad. In the delightful garden, amid the roses of the Cour D’Honneur, are The Thinker and the harrowing sculpture of Ugolian and his Sons amongst other masterpieces. Return to the hotel for dinner under own arrangements. This evening there is the option to attend a performance at the magnificent L’Opéra Garnier.

L’Opéra Garnier Père Junier’s Cart by Douanier Rousseau

Day 4: Sunday, 17th April Paris Leave by coach for Musée Marmottan which houses a collection of medieval miniatures, tapestries and Napoleonic art and furniture from the Marmotten family. The main highlight however is the collection by Monet including some of the Nymphéas (Water Lilies), one of the Cathédrales de Rouen and a view of the British Houses of Parliament.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure, or an optional visit to the Picasso Museum accompanied by Douglas. Farewell dinner at an 18th century hotel, home to an art collection dating from 1728 to the present day, with an introduction from the owner. Return to the hotel.

Day 5: Monday, 18th April Paris / London Leave by coach (with luggage) for continue to Musée de L’Orangerie which offers a fine permanent collection, with a large section devoted to Monet including one of the Nymphéas. Other highlights include two wonderful pictures by the Douanier Rousseau: Little Girl with a Doll (1907), and Père Junier’s Cart (1910).

Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to Paris Gare de Nord for a late afternoon Eurostar train to London Kings Cross St. Pancras.

Tour Price

COST PER PERSON: £ 2,095 Single supplement: £ 375 A fee of £95 per person will be charged for those who would like to travel out or back separately from the main group.

The tour cost includes:  Standard class Eurostar tickets as per the itinerary (upgrades upon request)  accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary  breakfast daily; 4 lunches and 2 dinners  all visits and excursions as per the itinerary  all transportation as detailed in the itinerary  all entrance fees  gratuities in restaurants  gratuities to driver/s  porterage  the services of your tour leader and guest lecturer throughout

The tour cost does NOT include:  travel insurance  items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)  Performance tickets  Entrance to Museum for optional visit on 17/04/16  government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 16/07/15

Changes to the Itinerary Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control.

Fitness to travel Whilst we do not impose any age limitations on joining a tour, participants must be reasonably fit. The very nature of the sightseeing involved in our tours (and the difficulties of direct access by coach in various places) means that a considerable amount of walking and standing is unavoidable on almost all tours. We regret that our tours are not suitable for people who have difficulty in walking, may require wheelchair assistance at any time, or are unable to keep pace with the group. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of a tour, please make this known to us before you book and we will advise you accordingly. The Ultimate Travel Company reserves the right to decline a reservation without necessarily giving a reason. Your tour leader may also refuse to take participants on particular excursions if they feel that the rest of the group will be held up.

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Note: If you are thinking about using air miles to upgrade to a premium cabin on the flights, please check with us first as fare restrictions might not permit this.

Health Requirements There are no mandatory health requirements for visitors to France, and no inoculations are required.

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