Stories

Reflections in Silver: The Quiet Power of Clara Peeters
Reflections in Silver: The Quiet Power of Clara Peeters
In the softly lit still lifes of the 17th century, nestled among wheels of cheese, delicate flowers, and fine silver goblets, you’ll sometimes find her. Tiny. Watching. Painting. Clara Peeters,... Read more...
A visit to Musée Stéphane Mallarmé
A visit to Musée Stéphane Mallarmé
Musée Stéphane Mallarmé: History and Symbolist Heritage Origins and Conversion to a Museum. Stéphane Mallarmé discovered the small inn at Valvins (Vulaines-sur-Seine) in 1874 and thereafter rented the upstairs rooms... Read more...
Summer Landscapes: École de Barbizon
Summer Landscapes: École de Barbizon
The École de Barbizon, or Barbizon School, was a group of landscape painters who settled in the village of Barbizon near the Forest of Fontainebleau in France during the mid-19th... Read more...
Charles Aubry: The Botanical 19th century still life
Charles Aubry: The Botanical 19th century still life
For more than thirty years, Charles Aubry designed patterns for fabric, carpet, and wallpaper manufacturers. In 1864, he started a company to produce plaster casts and photographs of flowers and... Read more...
Stéphane Mallarmé: The Architect of Symbolist Poetry
Stéphane Mallarmé: The Architect of Symbolist Poetry
Stéphane Mallarmé (1842–1898) stands as a central figure in French Symbolist poetry, revered for his dense, musical verse and revolutionary vision of language. A poet of profound philosophical depth and... Read more...
Umber, Ochre and Sienna: A visit to Roussillon
Umber, Ochre and Sienna: A visit to Roussillon
Roussillon, France: A Jewel of Provence Nestled in the heart of the Luberon region of Provence, Roussillon is a strikingly beautiful village famed for its vivid ochre cliffs, charming streets,... Read more...
Henri Fantin-Latour: The Poetic Realist of Flowers and Portraits
Henri Fantin-Latour: The Poetic Realist of Flowers and Portraits
Henri Fantin-Latour: The Poetic Realist of Flowers and Portraits Henri Fantin-Latour (1836–1904) holds a unique place in 19th-century French art. Renowned for his exquisite still lifes and evocative group portraits,... Read more...
Wooden Flowers: French Ornamentation "boisieries"
Wooden Flowers: French Ornamentation "boisieries"
Floral Decoration on Antique French Furniture: A Testament to Elegance and Craftsmanship Floral decoration has long been a hallmark of antique French furniture, embodying the elegance, romance, and artistry for... Read more...
The enduring influence of florist Constance Spry
The enduring influence of florist Constance Spry
Constance Spry (1886–1960) was a groundbreaking British florist, educator, and author whose radical approach reshaped 20th-century floral design.  Early Life & Bold Beginnings Born Constance Fletcher in Derby and raised in Ireland,... Read more...
Tulip Mania: The Bloom and Bust of 1630s Netherlands
Tulip Mania: The Bloom and Bust of 1630s Netherlands
Imagine a time when a single flower bulb was worth more than a luxurious house. Welcome to the fascinating world of Tulip Mania in 1630 Netherlands, where the value of... Read more...