Latest news with #Cezanne
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A brush with Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence, France: a blockbuster retrospective comes to town
Paul Cezanne is everywhere in Aix-en-Provence: there are streets named after him as well as a school, a cinema and even a sandwich (a version of traditional pan bagnat but with goat's cheese instead of tuna). And from late June, the whole city will go Cezanne mad, as the painter's atelier, north of the centre, and the family home to the west reopen after an eight-year restoration. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. But during Cezanne's lifetime, and for years after his death in 1906, Aix seemed at pains to ignore the artist later called the 'father of modern art'. When his widow, Hortense, offered several paintings to the city's main Musée Granet, director Henri Pontier declared that Cezanne paintings would enter the gallery only over his dead body. This year, however (with Pontier dead almost a century), Aix is making up for its neglect with a blockbuster exhibition at Musée Granet to accompany the unveiling of Cezanne's studio and the estate bought by the artist's family in 1859. The retrospective will bring together more than 130 works, including still lifes, portraits and landscapes. The paintings were all made in and around the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, which was a refuge and inspiration for the painter for 40 years. Cezanne's banker father acquired the 18th-century mansion with its farm and 15 hectares (37 acres) from a bankrupt client. Disappointed that his only son had no interest in finance, he still let young Paul use the ground floor grand salon as a workspace. By 2017, however, the house had fallen into disrepair and was closed for a long renovation. Its grand opening is on 28 June, but we grab a sneak preview. Though now in an Aix suburb (20 minutes from the centre, or a few minutes on bus no 8), it's a charming place, three serene storeys in five hectares of verdant grounds, its shutters painted in Aix's signature grey-blue. Inside, projections on the walls of the grand salon recreate the paintings (later chiselled off and sold) young Cezanne made on the walls, including a 'four seasons' fresco. His card players series – one of which set a record in 2011 for the highest price ever paid for a work of art – was painted here, as was an 1866 portrait of Cezanne père reading a newspaper. (The artist and his family never used an accent on the first 'e' of their name: Cézanne seems to have been a later, Parisian invention.) The family later made a studio for Paul on the second floor, and its tall window, higher than the roofline, can be seen from the front. The kitchen and Madame Cezanne's bedroom can also be visited. Daily guided tours of the interior (available in English) will cost from €9.50, but if these sell out, a ticket just for the grounds is still rewarding. For many fans, Cezanne's genius lies in his outdoor works, and they come to life in the extensive gardens. There's the chestnut avenue he painted, the farm buildings and, most evocative for me, the square bassin (pond) that features in dozens of pictures. I'm excited to spot the lion and dolphin statues seen in several canvases, the lions with their bums in the air. (The majestic plane trees and orangery were added by later owners.) After his father died in 1886 and the estate was sold, Cezanne built his atelier in Les Lauves, then a rural area north of Aix, with views to the mountain that had long been his muse, Mont Sainte-Victoire. The 1,000-metre-high limestone ridge can be viewed from many points, including the roof terrace of our hotel, the Escaletto (doubles from €105) on the edge of the old town. It's a 15-minute walk from here to the atelier, up a road now called Avenue Paul Cézanne. The traditional-style house sits on rising ground, with kitchen and living areas on the ground floor; the first floor is one huge, high-ceilinged studio, with a full-height, north-facing window. This was his last workplace, where he painted the Bathers series, one of which is in London's National Gallery. After further renovations next winter, the lower floor will have displays including the artist's coat, palette and satchel. If Aix had mixed feelings about its famous son, those seem to have been mutual. Of the 1,000-plus paintings Cezanne left, just one is of the city: a watercolour of the fountain in Place de la Mairie. However, he made hundreds in the countryside around, including over 80 of Mont Sainte-Victoire. So the best way to find Cezanne's Provence is to get out of Aix. Between the city and the mountain is Bibémus quarry, source of the creamy ochre stone that has built Aix since Roman times. The bus trip there (no 6) is like a ride through a thousand paintings. These wooded hills are all protected, and daily tickets (from the tourist office) include a shuttle from the terminus at Les Trois Bons Dieux. What pictures can't convey is the loud birdsong, southern heat and early summer scents of pine and broom. Cezanne made 27 paintings here, developing his pre-cubist style and trademark palette of blue, green and ochre. Reproductions of paintings around the quarry show the vantage point from which they were made – and their current homes: this one now in New York, others in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Baltimore … Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion US tourists in Europe may not feel their homeland offers much to be proud of right now, but in Aix they can reflect with satisfaction that it was thanks to US collectors that Cezanne's fame spread and his legacy was preserved. The atelier would have been demolished for housing had a group of US collectors not saved it in 1952. And an American artist, George Bunker, bought the Bibémus quarry in 1954 and left it to the city when he died in 1991, on condition that the land be protected and open to visitors. Canadian sculptor David Campbell, now in his late 80s, with wizard-like white hair, was a friend of Bunker's and has lived here in a quarryman's cottage for 40 years. We spy him exercising on the edge of the site and he later shows us some of his fluid works in white limestone, plus masterly recreations of medieval masonry. The Red Rock (c.1895, now in Paris's Musée de l'Orangerie) is one of the best-known Cezanne quarry paintings, and the small post at the bottom left is still there today. But the site calls to my mind another in the National Gallery, with, unusually, a figure in white shirt and blue trousers dwarfed by a wall of orange rock. Visitors can also book a 6pm visit to Bibémus to enjoy the setting sun on Mont Sainte-Victoire (€17pp) or a half-day electric bike tour from Aix (€90pp including bike hire). The area may close unexpectedly, however, if mistral winds increase the risk of wildfires. One town the artist did choose to paint is Gardanne, around seven miles from Aix (eight minutes by train). Here, Cezanne tourism is more informal. A plaque on the main street, Cours Forbin, shows where he lived with his wife and son for a productive year in 1885-6. Nearby Colline des Frères (Brothers' Hill) was an open-air studio for Cezanne, and a free-to-visit walking route includes reproductions of paintings of his favourite mountain, with Gardanne and its bell tower in the foreground. (Power station cooling towers do detract slightly from today's view.) Again, these works are almost all now in the US – one even in the White House. The local tourist office does guided tours (€10, in English) on Fridays in July and August. There are no hotels in Gardanne, but a self-catering let meant we could make the most of the extensive street market under towering plane trees on Cours Forbin (Weds, Fri and Sun). I'm pleased to learn that the square blobs on the right of at least two of Cezanne's Gardanne paintings are windmills, which still stand. We climb north up Cativel hill and find three mills, one still with its sails, and the date 1567 over the door. They're on a gorgeous rolling hillside glowing in Cezanne colours, with interlocking shadows of umbrella pines completing the painterly scene. Aix may be all about Cezanne this year, but closer encounters may well be found off the main tourist trail. Cezanne at Jas de Bouffan opens 28 June and runs until 12 October at Musée Granet. The trip was provided by Aix-en-Provence tourism
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fancy France for your summer holidays? Here's some of the best breaks to book
France continues to enchant British holidaymakers. Last year, Britons formed a substantial portion of the 100 million international visitors to the ever-popular holiday destination. Proximity undoubtedly plays a role, but the enduring appeal runs deeper. France's captivating landscapes, from picturesque rivers dotted with elegant chateaux to artist-inspiring mountain ranges, beckon travellers. The nation's celebrated culinary scene also keeps visitors returning for more. However, the ultimate draw is arguably the French "joie de vivre" – an effortless embrace of leisurely living. Whether basking in the Mediterranean sun with a glass of rosé or savouring a long coffee beneath a Parisian café awning, the French commitment to relaxation proves irresistible. Need any more convincing? Here are a view more reason to knock on our neighbours' doors this summer. While the Louvre in Paris is about to undergo a major renaissance as part of a much-needed revamp, its little sister 300km north is firing on all cylinders. The Galerie du Temps at the Louvre-Lens recently underwent a transformation in a bid to shed new light on its permanent collection of works. Another highlight alternative for die-hard Paris fans is the 'Pom Pom Pidou' exhibition at the Tripostal, a former mail sorting office transformed into a cultural hub. The show will feature a selection of works from the capital's Pompidou Centre, which will close from September for renovation and won't open until 2030. Find pieces by Robert Delaunay, Italian futurists, Marcel Duchamp and a light projection by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Continuing the art theme in French Flanders, Lille's bi-annual Lille3000 event returns from 26 April with a parade of floats, musicians, dancers and street performers followed by an evening fireworks display. This year's programme of artistic and cultural events, which runs until 9 November, focuses on the spirit of festivity. How: Travel to Lille by Eurostar from London St Pancras from £39 one way. Visit in the historic Le Carlton with views of Lille's Opera House, from £151 per night including breakfast. Visit 'When you're born there it's hopeless, nothing else is good enough,' reflected artist Paul Cezanne on his enduringly attractive hometown. Throughout the year, exhibitions and events will be hosted across Aix-en-Provence in celebration of its most famous resident. Following renovation works, visitors can tour his 18th century country house Bastide du Jas de Bouffan. The Atelier des Lauves, his final studio, will also reopen to the public, while an 'In the footsteps of Cezanne' app serves as a guide to the picturesque locations which featured in his famous works. Beyond brushes and easels, the spirit of the Cezanne becomes a multi-sensory experience with several offbeat offerings. At 3, Rue Thiers, in the historic quarter of Aix-en-Provence, perfumer Rose & Marius invites enthusiasts to create scents inspired by the master's paintings. Chefs at Hotel-Restaurant La Bastide Bourrelly, meanwhile, have created a menu dedicated to the artists' love of food including a nod to his insistence on always travelling to Paris with a bottle of olive oil. How: Ramble Worldwide offers a seven-night half-board Cezanne's Provence escorted tour from £2,319pp, including train travel or flights. Various departures between March and October. Visit Making it much easier to plan an eco-friendly holiday, Brittany Ferries launch their second hybrid ship this month. Named Guillaume de Normandie – the French name for William the Conqueror – it will operate from Portsmouth to Caen in Normandy. The city in the heart of Normandy is the final resting place of the Norman King of England, whose millennium anniversary is in 2027. Plans are already underway for major birthday celebrations, with this year's Caen Millennium serving as a prelude. Along with showcasing what's on offer in the city, events will look at the broader impact of Normans on Ireland, Sicily and southern Italy, and the Channel Islands. This summer is also the last opportunity to see the Bayeux Tapestry before the museum housing the 70metre-long tapestry of conquests in 1066 closes for a refurbishment to be unveiled in 2027. How: Brittany Ferries offers crossing from Portsmouth £69 one way for a foot passenger. Visit A platform for the world's most fiercely contested cycle race, France has championed pedal power for decades. Not every cyclist, however, is racing in pursuit of the Tour de France's fabled yellow jersey. Around 70% of residents own a bike and a network of cycle-friendly paths weaves through the country. A good all-round scenery and leg-please, the Loire a Velo covers 900km through the Loire Valley, with more than 700 cycle-friendly places to stay along the route. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the initiative, and it's still riding high. Glide alongside the Loire, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, gazing at grand chateaux and elegant vineyards on the way. How: Cycling For Softies offer an escorted four-night half-board Chateaux of the Loire trip from £975pp, including bike hire and panniers. Visit
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fancy France for your summer holidays? Here's some of the best breaks to book
France continues to enchant British holidaymakers. Last year, Britons formed a substantial portion of the 100 million international visitors to the ever-popular holiday destination. Proximity undoubtedly plays a role, but the enduring appeal runs deeper. France's captivating landscapes, from picturesque rivers dotted with elegant chateaux to artist-inspiring mountain ranges, beckon travellers. The nation's celebrated culinary scene also keeps visitors returning for more. However, the ultimate draw is arguably the French "joie de vivre" – an effortless embrace of leisurely living. Whether basking in the Mediterranean sun with a glass of rosé or savouring a long coffee beneath a Parisian café awning, the French commitment to relaxation proves irresistible. Need any more convincing? Here are a view more reason to knock on our neighbours' doors this summer. While the Louvre in Paris is about to undergo a major renaissance as part of a much-needed revamp, its little sister 300km north is firing on all cylinders. The Galerie du Temps at the Louvre-Lens recently underwent a transformation in a bid to shed new light on its permanent collection of works. Another highlight alternative for die-hard Paris fans is the 'Pom Pom Pidou' exhibition at the Tripostal, a former mail sorting office transformed into a cultural hub. The show will feature a selection of works from the capital's Pompidou Centre, which will close from September for renovation and won't open until 2030. Find pieces by Robert Delaunay, Italian futurists, Marcel Duchamp and a light projection by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Continuing the art theme in French Flanders, Lille's bi-annual Lille3000 event returns from 26 April with a parade of floats, musicians, dancers and street performers followed by an evening fireworks display. This year's programme of artistic and cultural events, which runs until 9 November, focuses on the spirit of festivity. How: Travel to Lille by Eurostar from London St Pancras from £39 one way. Visit in the historic Le Carlton with views of Lille's Opera House, from £151 per night including breakfast. Visit 'When you're born there it's hopeless, nothing else is good enough,' reflected artist Paul Cezanne on his enduringly attractive hometown. Throughout the year, exhibitions and events will be hosted across Aix-en-Provence in celebration of its most famous resident. Following renovation works, visitors can tour his 18th century country house Bastide du Jas de Bouffan. The Atelier des Lauves, his final studio, will also reopen to the public, while an 'In the footsteps of Cezanne' app serves as a guide to the picturesque locations which featured in his famous works. Beyond brushes and easels, the spirit of the Cezanne becomes a multi-sensory experience with several offbeat offerings. At 3, Rue Thiers, in the historic quarter of Aix-en-Provence, perfumer Rose & Marius invites enthusiasts to create scents inspired by the master's paintings. Chefs at Hotel-Restaurant La Bastide Bourrelly, meanwhile, have created a menu dedicated to the artists' love of food including a nod to his insistence on always travelling to Paris with a bottle of olive oil. How: Ramble Worldwide offers a seven-night half-board Cezanne's Provence escorted tour from £2,319pp, including train travel or flights. Various departures between March and October. Visit Making it much easier to plan an eco-friendly holiday, Brittany Ferries launch their second hybrid ship this month. Named Guillaume de Normandie – the French name for William the Conqueror – it will operate from Portsmouth to Caen in Normandy. The city in the heart of Normandy is the final resting place of the Norman King of England, whose millennium anniversary is in 2027. Plans are already underway for major birthday celebrations, with this year's Caen Millennium serving as a prelude. Along with showcasing what's on offer in the city, events will look at the broader impact of Normans on Ireland, Sicily and southern Italy, and the Channel Islands. This summer is also the last opportunity to see the Bayeux Tapestry before the museum housing the 70metre-long tapestry of conquests in 1066 closes for a refurbishment to be unveiled in 2027. How: Brittany Ferries offers crossing from Portsmouth £69 one way for a foot passenger. Visit Cycling in the Loire Valley A platform for the world's most fiercely contested cycle race, France has championed pedal power for decades. Not every cyclist, however, is racing in pursuit of the Tour de France's fabled yellow jersey. Around 70% of residents own a bike and a network of cycle-friendly paths weaves through the country. A good all-round scenery and leg-please, the Loire a Velo covers 900km through the Loire Valley, with more than 700 cycle-friendly places to stay along the route. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the initiative, and it's still riding high. Glide alongside the Loire, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, gazing at grand chateaux and elegant vineyards on the way.
South China Morning Post
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Art Basel and Sevens perfect match for Hong Kong on international stage
In an attempt to revive tourism and breathe life back into the city after the pandemic, Hong Kong authorities have spent the past few years busy packing the calendar, so much so that there were more than 200 events annually for the past two years. Even by those standards, March is shaping up to be an extraordinary month, with so many arts, culture, business and sporting events that it has been labelled 'Hong Kong Super March.' Advertisement Depending on your interest, you could have started the month watching World Grand Prix snooker at Kai Tak Arena, taken in LIV Golf, viewed Cezanne and Renoir at the Museum of Art, studied Picasso at M+, or sourced some new handbags at the APLF Leather fair, now in its fourth decade, at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. There were also many more events in between. Even as March counts down its final days, the main mega-events are yet to happen. Today, the exhibition centre opens its doors for the 13th Art Basel Hong Kong. Asia's biggest contemporary art fair runs through Sunday, with 240 exhibitors from 42 countries and territories. The other main draw is taking place at a brand new venue for the first time, and the pressure is on. The new Kai Tak Stadium kicks off three days of world-class rugby today with the Hong Kong Sevens. It is already going to be the biggest tournament crowd by ticket sales – 43,000 out of 47,000 had been sold by Wednesday, organisers said. The stadium, which opened on March 1, is the crown jewel of the HK$30 billion Kai Tak Sports Park, which bears the name of the old airport. It is significantly larger than the ageing Hong Kong Stadium, which had a capacity of 40,000 and hosted the tournament in So Kon Po for 40 years before falling silent after its final hurrah – and round of 'Sweet Caroline' – last year. Kai Tak is meant to be a hub for sports and entertainment, offering large-scale concerts to help attract global visitors. British band Coldplay will play concerts there next month. Workers outside the Kai Tak Main Stadium prepare for Day 1 of the Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: May Tse A lot is riding on the Sevens, the stadium's biggest test yet, and there have been positive signs so far. Some hotels and restaurants are seeing 20 per cent more business ahead of kick-off, with visitors from the United States, Canada, Britain and beyond. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui told the Post that Super March had attracted both the numbers and spending sought by the government. Many had come for the month's final attractions, and the sports park was a game changer for mega-events, Law said.
Telegraph
27-01-2025
- Telegraph
The best culture, views and food to enjoy in Pennsylvania
There's a strong case to be made for Pennsylvania as the great American getaway. Here you can combine the character-packed and historic urban energy of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with side helpings of small, quaint towns and gorgeous mountains and lakes in between. It's a place where you'll seamlessly switch from heavyweight art museums to scenic train journeys through state parks, and award-winning restaurants to dogsledding through highlands. Variety is the state's secret ingredient. Arts and culture Philadelphia has a phenomenal collection of museums, with the internationally renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art being the headline act. Nearby, the Barnes Foundation displays masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Cezanne and Van Gogh in eccentric, coordinated 'ensembles'. Find beauty in every stroke at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Credit : Philadelphia Museum of Art To the west, Pittsburgh matches Philadelphia's cultural offerings with the six-storey Andy Warhol Museum. The museum does more than just display Warhol's famous artworks, such as Campbell's Soup Cans, but also explores the artist's life, philosophies, media ventures and global impact. Between the state's two big cities, significant historical and cultural attractions include Civil War sites, living history museums and heritage mansions that are now open to visitors. One of the most notable of the latter is the Asa Packer Mansion in the town of Jim Thorpe. A grand Italian-style villa built for a railroad magnate in 1861, this National Historic Landmark retains its sumptuous Victorian furniture and fittings. The great outdoors Asa Packer had a significant hand in developing the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, one of America's most beautiful train rides. In a region known as Pennsylvania's Little Switzerland, diesel engines pull vintage carriages on a 16-mile round trip across bridges and through the mountain scenery from Jim Thorpe to Lehigh Gorge State Park. Explore the breathtaking Lehigh Gorge by train Credit : Shutterstock This state park is one of many across Pennsylvania, each offering something slightly different. The Cherry Springs State Park in northern Pennsylvania is best known for its handsome cherry trees, but it is increasingly a go-to spot for stargazers. The dark skies above the park make it an ideal place for observing the majesty of the Milky Way. For celestial novices, Potter County Stargazing Tours runs specialist, astronomer-guided nighttime tours. Stargazing at its finest — Milky Way magic from Cherry Springs State Park Credit : Shutterstock In southwestern Pennsylvania, the Laurel Highlands region plays host to several state parks and forests, as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. Hiking and mountain biking trails combine with trout-fishing lakes, campgrounds and whitewater rafting. Laurel Highlands River Tours offers gentle, family-friendly paddling runs, as well as more adventurous trips tackling Class III and IV rapids. Being outdoors doesn't mean compromising on comforts and conveniences – there are several luxurious resorts here. Nemacolin near Farmington stands out for its sheer range of offerings. Guests can stay in a chateau, a Tudor-style lodge or an adults-only Art Deco oasis, before tackling activities such as ice skating, dogsledding, high rope adventures or golf on a championship-level course. Food and drink All that action can make you hungry. Fortunately, Pennsylvania's not just a fantastic place to eat, but a fascinating one. High-quality local produce mixes with bold ideas across the state to deliver a culinary experience like no other. In Kennett Square – known as the mushroom capital of the world – Talula's Table has a reputation as one of the toughest reservations to secure in the country. This is partly because there are just two tables, but mainly because its ultra-seasonal tasting menus show off the best of the surrounding area's stellar produce. Don't fret if you can't get a table, however – by day the restaurant acts as a more-accessible market and café. In Philadelphia, the city's diverse culinary offerings are on display at Reading Terminal Market, where dozens of specialist stalls congregate, serving up everything from roast pork sandwiches to ice cream to the city's famous cheesesteaks. There's also an excellent James Beard Award-winning multicultural restaurant scene, with Kalaya being one of its main attractions. Its authentic southern Thai food in an impressive warehouse setting is made for sharing with a group. A feast of bold flavours and vibrant dishes from southern Thailand awaits for you at Kalaya Credit : Mike Prince In Pittsburgh, food tours through the Strip district take in family-run bakeries, Italian meat specialists and passionate pierogi-makers. Meanwhile, the much-lauded Apteka has put a plant-based spin on traditional Eastern European favourites, and Café on the Corner acts as a non-profit training ground for local would-be chefs while serving comforting southern cuisine. The diversity of flavours is what makes Pennsylvania special – and that extends far beyond the dinner plate. The great American getaway With direct flights from the UK to both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, weaving around Pennsylvania couldn't be easier. Start your journey at
