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2 January 1904 — Paris | |
Saturday. 2nd [January 1904]. As soon as I was dressed I began to think of leaving. At 11 I went off– Baker was to drive to La Muette where I am to stay with the Franquevilles for 3 days. I walked to the Madeleine to see the Crêche put up there—a sort of lay representation of the birth of Christ artificially lighted, not to my mind the very least devotional. I thence walked to the Tuilleries gardens to the Louvre & took a look round at the pictures—observed those of our English school wh are not very important. Looked also in to the Assyrian gallery to compare the things there with what Henry found & put into the British Museum– The Louvre pieces tho’ few are fine & not being blackened with smoke as are the London ones look better. Walked on to the Rue St Roch to Belard’s Hotel St Romain & lunched there—walked on to Avenue de Messine to see Mme La Croix who received me tho’ she is laid up with a bad cold. Sat with her till the Franqueville carriage called for me at 4 & took me to La Muette. Mme La Croix though getting old & being very stout has since her husband’s death taken again to her oil painting in which she is a great proficient. She painted most of the pictures for the decoration of her ceilings, the drop scene of the theatre at Cadiz &c. She had in her room a portrait in the English style. She says she saw at the last Paris Exhibition a portrait of a lady by Sir J. Reynolds & she has painted a replica of it from recollection. It is really very clever. She has promised a small sketch for my London picture gallery. On leaving her I drove straight to La Muette where I found Sophy & she gave me tea– She was tired & had not been out. After tea she showed me my bed room a charming room leading off a gallery– The chateau is not altered since it was a royal one lived in by Marie Antoinette. There is a fine park—rather spoiled by the railway wh runs close to the house. We dined at 7.30 myself the only guest. | |
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