Art in Aix
"So we have to have these sort of meet ups with all of you, like a check in once a week to make sure you are all alive." Our professor told us this before we left for France. "I don't know what we will do. Maybe get a baguette and sit in the park somewhere?"
Today we had a check in, and it was no simple baguette. We decided to spend the whole day at the Museums of Aix-en-Provence. Walking, chatting, having a picnic outside before our next self guided tour began, wandering in the art of museums and of Aix itself is surely a great sort of day to find yourself on.
Secret service earphone in, we were ready to start enjoying art.
Starting in the Musee du Vieil of Aix. Once a sort of summer or winter or part-time sort of home for what we can only assume was a very wealthy family, it now is a small museum that holds mementos and the history of Aix including historical paintings, furniture including a little cab where the rich person could sit while someone carried them throughout the city, and dolls that yes, were a little creepy if you stared at them for too long.
Luckily, it was a quick stop before we ran to the local boulangerie of Biscotte et Biscotte, ordering sandwiches of all sorts. Asking the woman working to please cut them in half, she attempted with the cry of, "Oh no, I am obliterating these poor sandwiches!" Or something to that effect.
But we didn't mind one bit as we carried them across town so that we could make it for our noon time slot in the Musee Granet, possibly my favorite of the museum visits.
Wandering through the aisles of paintings, my professor's voice trailed along in my ear as she admired the artwork as well.
To be honest, we probably could have spent so much more time in this museum that encompasses three entire floors as well as another separate building for more contemporary modern art. On the way out, we passed through a very large room filled with marble sculpture. I stared at them with fleeting awe as we had to make our way back outside. One of the statues pointing at me definitely deserved an Instagram opportunity, but instead I will leave some more photos of remarkable paintings here.
As the day of museum wandering came to a close, for many of us the day was not quite yet over. Not only does IAU introduce us wonderfully to the French culture through excursions such as the one a few weeks ago to La Ciotat, but they also have the opportunity for a wine tasting class. Even though, let's be honest, those filled glasses were a little more than just a taste.
Through the class we tried champagne (yes from actual Champagne), a white, rose, red, and sweeter dessert wine. All delicious as we also learned how to properly open that bottle of champagne so we didn't look like Nascar drivers and what pairings would make the experience of sipping your wine even more of a magical moment. Think extra dark chocolate with sweet wine. Yum.
It was a very cultured day, what can I say?
Today we had a check in, and it was no simple baguette. We decided to spend the whole day at the Museums of Aix-en-Provence. Walking, chatting, having a picnic outside before our next self guided tour began, wandering in the art of museums and of Aix itself is surely a great sort of day to find yourself on.
Secret service earphone in, we were ready to start enjoying art.
Starting in the Musee du Vieil of Aix. Once a sort of summer or winter or part-time sort of home for what we can only assume was a very wealthy family, it now is a small museum that holds mementos and the history of Aix including historical paintings, furniture including a little cab where the rich person could sit while someone carried them throughout the city, and dolls that yes, were a little creepy if you stared at them for too long.
Luckily, it was a quick stop before we ran to the local boulangerie of Biscotte et Biscotte, ordering sandwiches of all sorts. Asking the woman working to please cut them in half, she attempted with the cry of, "Oh no, I am obliterating these poor sandwiches!" Or something to that effect.
But we didn't mind one bit as we carried them across town so that we could make it for our noon time slot in the Musee Granet, possibly my favorite of the museum visits.
Wandering through the aisles of paintings, my professor's voice trailed along in my ear as she admired the artwork as well.
To be honest, we probably could have spent so much more time in this museum that encompasses three entire floors as well as another separate building for more contemporary modern art. On the way out, we passed through a very large room filled with marble sculpture. I stared at them with fleeting awe as we had to make our way back outside. One of the statues pointing at me definitely deserved an Instagram opportunity, but instead I will leave some more photos of remarkable paintings here.
The color! The style! I stared at each of the paintings closely as I wandered, some definitely making more sense to me than others. But that brings up the topic of what really defines and consititues art? A question that I am also asked every day in my art history lecture.
I could stood and wandered staring at only a few of the paintings for some time...
Instead I found myself though more obsessed with the vaulting above me.
And Picasso doodles.
Through the class we tried champagne (yes from actual Champagne), a white, rose, red, and sweeter dessert wine. All delicious as we also learned how to properly open that bottle of champagne so we didn't look like Nascar drivers and what pairings would make the experience of sipping your wine even more of a magical moment. Think extra dark chocolate with sweet wine. Yum.
It was a very cultured day, what can I say?
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