Musee Jacquemart-Andre

 We were happy to return to the Jacquemart-Andre for another temporary exhibit, this time "The Outdoor Studios" of the impressionists in Normandy.  As usual, photos of the exposition itself were not permitted, but the house itself is always a delight. 

Our first stop, though, was the tea room, where we had a terrific lunch, as usual. I had the plat du jour, a salmon fillet over a bed of diced fennel and a light cream sauce.

 Tom enjoyed his salad with smoked salmon. 

  And dessert!  There is a pastry case at the entrance, and the meringue tart caught my eye.  When I asked our waitress about the raspberry tart, she corrected me - "It's rose!"  And it was!

Ok, now to the main course of the day, the expo.  It was very nice, showing impressionist works done in Normandy out of doors.  There was all the usual suspects, plus a handful by Berthe Morrisot and one by Eva Gonsales, about whom I have been reading the last couple of weeks.  The former was a more-or-less self-taught artist given the encouragement of her welathy family to indulge her passion.  She married Eugene Manet, Eduard Manet's brother.  Eugene also encouraged her painting.  We would see much mroe of her work at the Marmottan. 

Eva Gonsales was the only pupil of Manet, although he may have been more interested in her beauty and personality than her talent. Her work here was unimpressive; at the Marmottan a few days later she showed Manet's influence and her real abilities.

But back to the house itself.  

 We both love the main salon. 

Tom is quite fond of the music room, where we enjoyed a concert last year. 

 Jacquemart himself. 

 The music room from above.  Back in the day, the musicians would play from this level, unseen by the guests, who could number a thousand.  The musicians, after all, were just servants. 

 

I am particularly fond of the stairway area and the adjacent winter garden, with the skylights and intricate architecture of the stairs.  

This fresco is a particular favorite, because of the dangling ankles of the fool. 

I don't think this clock was showing the correct time, but it's possible, since it was high time to leave the museum and head home.