It would be absolutely accurate to say, that I have no
artistic talent whatsoever. And my knowledge of art, its history and
practice is sketchy at best. Still there is one basic, like most people, I
really appreciate. Light. In all its manifestations.
"The older I become the more I realize of that I have
to work very hard to reproduce what I search: the instantaneous. The influence
of the atmosphere on the things and the light scattered throughout" Claude Monet, 1891
"The climax of Impressionism". That's how the
series of views of Rouen Cathedral painted by Claude Monet between 1892 and
1894 has been best described. The series - consisting of 31 canvases showing
the facade of the Gothic Rouen Cathedral under different conditions of light
and climate- caused an immediate admiration among the critics of his time.
It was on a vacation to France (celebrating Mrs. T.s retirement) that I stood on the
plaza in front of that cathedral and remembered the PBS special on Monet and
his studies of light. I was so enthralled I managed to get my billfold picked.
Ooops, I digress...fortunately it was a decoy in my back pocket. The valuables
were in a pouch hanging from my neck.
It was a somewhat overcast hazy morning when we arrived.
Unfortunately, it was the same condition as when we had visited the cathedral
in Chartes. I had advised Mrs. T there to look up at the stained glass windows and be
prepared to see heaven. The blue at Chartes is stunning.
Mrs. T's photograph of the North Rose window ensemble of Chartes Cathedral on a somewhat hazy day. Still magnificent. We stood in silent awe......
