But,
back to art appreciation for a minute... I should first mention that my two favorite
art museums are the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, with its unmatched collection
of Impressionist paintings, and the Prado Museum in Madrid (if you like Goya,
Velasquez and el Greco, this is the place!) The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is
also on my list, of course. And my favorite artists are Paul Cézanne, Vincent
van Gogh, Camille Saint-Saëns and Gustav Mahler (not to mention my very favorite
piece of music: Mozart's Requiem.)
And,
as I said, I have always been interested in art appreciation. But I don't mean
just going to museums and comparing Giotto to El Greco or Modigliani. I also mean
visiting places where famous artists lived and worked: their house, studio, kitchen,
bedroom, garden, etc. Seeing the locations where famous paintings were created
is a totally different experience... an artistic pilgrimage, so to speak. Here's
a list of artists' places I have visited: Paul
Cézanne - Aix-en-Provence, France. I visited both the house where he
lived most of his life, the Jas de Bouffan, and his studio, Les Lauves, where
he finished his career. Walking around his garden - the setting for many of his
paintings - was absolutely fascinating, and driving past Mt Sainte Victoire -
his favorite subject - was a thrill. Salvador
Dali - Port Lligat, Spain (north of Barcelona). Dali bought a clump of fisherman's
houses and turned them into an architecturally "surrealist" compound
with stunning views over the Mediterranean. An extravagant complex, as you would
expect! Frida
Kahlo - Mexico City. Frida lived in the Blue House with Diego Rivera during
their tumultuous relationship. Her easel is still there and the back brace she
wore because of her injury is on display in her bedroom. Claude
Monet - Giverny, France. A very popular tourist destination - just a day trip
from Paris. Strolling around his lily pond and through his garden makes you feel
part of his wonderful Impressionist paintings. The house and his studio are also
open for visits. Pablo
Picasso - Malaga, Spain. A comfortable apartment in this attractive beach
city of Andalusia, where he was born. Outside Malaga, if you have a chance, do
not miss the Picasso Museum in Barcelona showing some of his early "traditional"
works; also, Guernica, at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid; and his Chapel of
War and Peace in Vallauris, France (on the French Riviera near Nice). Pierre-Auguste
Renoir - Cagnes-sur-Mer, France (near Nice). He lived in a commodious two-story
house with several acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and views over the
Mediterranean. A very peaceful place! A handful of his paintings are on display
in the living and dining rooms. Joaquin
Sorolla - Madrid, Spain. The artist's mansion (now a museum owned by the Ministry
of Culture) displays a small collection of the prolific Impressionist's work and
shows how successful he was during his lifetime. In the large and airy studio,
the canvas he was working on just before he died in 1920 remains in its place,
with the brushes, paint tubes and palette next to the unfinished work. The Andalusian-style
garden he designed makes a peaceful transition from the busy street outside.. Vincent
van Gogh - Auvers-sur-Oise, France. This is where the tormented genius tragically
ended his days. Walking in the tiny, drab bedroom where he died gives you goose
bumps. His grave is next to that of his brother Theo in the local cemetery, up
on a hill. Dr. Gachet's house is only a few blocks down the road and is open to
the public. I went inside. Both van Gogh and Cézanne painted there. Having
had somewhat of a "personal" relationship with some of the greatest
artists in the world, I feel much inspired. So, life is good and the future looks
bright. For many years to come, I anticipate more canvases will climb on to my
easel, bringing me a sense of achievement when the painting is finished and, I
hope, giving you great pleasure to view. | 
