1.) I am wholly unpolitical and thus am not sure if I would fight in the name of anything, anywhere. If my street was being invaded, I would probably hide under something, being not so brave as to stand up for my city. Especially against Napoleon. 2.) I don't know. I was actually hoping to answer that question for myself when I go back this summer, because it will be a fresh new look on things. St. Petersburg is a beautiful city, and if I would live anywhere in Russia it would most certainly be there, but I wish I could have the architectural beauty without the dirty politics. It is most probably this concept that attracts me to living in Prague. 3.) Oh yes. I would have to say most significantly Chagall, Modigliani, Klimt, Fragonard (quite different from the others but the content influences me). I am not very interested in impressionism but I do love art noveau and modern illustration. I am inspired by children's books, such as those by Edward Gorey and Lauren Child. 4.) Although Bonaparte was a kind of door into my historical interests, they are not limited to him. I am generally fascinated by history and the concept of the passage of time. Even though the bulk of my fascination lies in the 17th and early 18th centuries (French Revolution, Count Cagliostro, Casanova, the Russian monarchs, etc.), I am also quite taken by Francesco Petrarca and the like. 5.) I would be able to fly, as typical an answer as that may sound, fly like a little bird, whenever I wanted to, and see the whole world.
Ooooh, your answers make me HAPPY, inspiring answers, even!
1) HAHAHAHAHAHA, that's hilarious, you sound so demure. "What? WHO'S invading? Forget it, tell me when it's over, I'm under the bed. Oh, oh, and tell him I think he's super-cool, and that when all this calms down, well...I'd like to have him over for tea if he has a moment, perhaps?" 2) I know exactly what you mean, what with the architectural beauty and whatnot. Also, in terms of trying things out, that's largely why I'm studying in Europe to begin with. That way I can comfortably settle on either side of the Atlantic with the satisfaction of knowing that whatever decision I made, I made with much certainty. 3) Yes, yes, yes, YES! Yes, yes! God, YES! I'm going through a big Modigliani revival (though my bigger one was last December) right now, but, oh wow, you just reminded me of Fragonard! The Swing is one of my favourite paintings! 4) Yes, yes, yes. You really should try to get your hands on anything from Will and Ariel Durant's Story of Civilisation series. Their book on The Age of Napoleon will make you swoon in joy, and The Renaissance is also rather glorious. It's pure history, as in books, not novels, but they tell it impartially and via anecdotes, so it feels like a beloved elder is telling you what happened directly, and that all of these people are old friends, so that you're really on a first-name basis with Napoleon or Talleyrand or Mme. Recamier by the end. Look in libraries, they're there. 5) Oh, me too, hurrah hurrah!
1.) My sentiments EXACTLY. Oh, tea with the Emperor after a long day of hiding under the bed from weaponry. 4.) Oh, you reminded me of Mme. Recamier. Have you seen the painting of her by Gerard? Absolutely one of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen. I will most certainly look for these books, oh yes.
Most certainly, most certainly; as much as I'm attatched to David's own experiments with Julie and the fainting-couch, Gerard does actually outdo ol' Jacques-Louis with Madame's dress-sleve gently falling off her shoulder in that most-seductive way. Quite glorious, aye! But look for the Durants - she features prominently in a section on the Sexual Morality of the age, and they take to calling her one of the Three Graces (along with Josephine and I-forget-whom) of the Directory in quite a charmingly endearing way.
1.) I am wholly unpolitical and thus am not sure if I would fight in the name of anything, anywhere. If my street was being invaded, I would probably hide under something, being not so brave as to stand up for my city. Especially against Napoleon.
2.) I don't know. I was actually hoping to answer that question for myself when I go back this summer, because it will be a fresh new look on things. St. Petersburg is a beautiful city, and if I would live anywhere in Russia it would most certainly be there, but I wish I could have the architectural beauty without the dirty politics. It is most probably this concept that attracts me to living in Prague.
3.) Oh yes. I would have to say most significantly Chagall, Modigliani, Klimt, Fragonard (quite different from the others but the content influences me). I am not very interested in impressionism but I do love art noveau and modern illustration. I am inspired by children's books, such as those by Edward Gorey and Lauren Child.
4.) Although Bonaparte was a kind of door into my historical interests, they are not limited to him. I am generally fascinated by history and the concept of the passage of time. Even though the bulk of my fascination lies in the 17th and early 18th centuries (French Revolution, Count Cagliostro, Casanova, the Russian monarchs, etc.), I am also quite taken by Francesco Petrarca and the like.
5.) I would be able to fly, as typical an answer as that may sound, fly like a little bird, whenever I wanted to, and see the whole world.
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1) HAHAHAHAHAHA, that's hilarious, you sound so demure. "What? WHO'S invading? Forget it, tell me when it's over, I'm under the bed. Oh, oh, and tell him I think he's super-cool, and that when all this calms down, well...I'd like to have him over for tea if he has a moment, perhaps?"
2) I know exactly what you mean, what with the architectural beauty and whatnot. Also, in terms of trying things out, that's largely why I'm studying in Europe to begin with. That way I can comfortably settle on either side of the Atlantic with the satisfaction of knowing that whatever decision I made, I made with much certainty.
3) Yes, yes, yes, YES! Yes, yes! God, YES! I'm going through a big Modigliani revival (though my bigger one was last December) right now, but, oh wow, you just reminded me of Fragonard! The Swing is one of my favourite paintings!
4) Yes, yes, yes. You really should try to get your hands on anything from Will and Ariel Durant's Story of Civilisation series. Their book on The Age of Napoleon will make you swoon in joy, and The Renaissance is also rather glorious. It's pure history, as in books, not novels, but they tell it impartially and via anecdotes, so it feels like a beloved elder is telling you what happened directly, and that all of these people are old friends, so that you're really on a first-name basis with Napoleon or Talleyrand or Mme. Recamier by the end. Look in libraries, they're there.
5) Oh, me too, hurrah hurrah!
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4.) Oh, you reminded me of Mme. Recamier. Have you seen the painting of her by Gerard? Absolutely one of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen. I will most certainly look for these books, oh yes.
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