Philatelic Photograph: Hôtel de Ville - Paris, France / Palazzo Senatorio - Rome, Italy

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Hôtel de Ville (City Hall)

Paris, France

and

Capitoline Hill & Palazzo Senatorio (City Hall)

Rome, Italy 

Topic; Philatelic Photographs

GPS (Paris): N48° 51.386; E002° 21.106 

GPS (Rome): N41° 53.624; E012° 28.916

Quick Description: 

The Hôtel de Ville is the home to the municipal government and the place where large receptions are held. It is located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, on the right bank of the river Seine.

Long Description:
This site has been the location of Paris' city hall since 1357, when a building called the House of Pillars was situated in the middle of a commercial dock area. The building as we see it today dates back to 1533 when King Francis I ordered the old building razed and the construction of a new and grander city hall for Paris. The King appointed the architects Dominique de Cortone and Pierre Chambiges to design the structure. They planned a Renaissance style building modelled after a French château. The work on the building continued until 1628, during the reign of Louis XIII.

For 200 years the building remained unchanged. In 1835, Rambuteau - the préfet of the Seine département, commissioned Étienne-Hippolyte Godde and Jean-Baptiste Lesueur. to design two wings, linked by a gallery, to be added to the main building.

During the Franco-Prussian War, on 18 January 1871, a crowd gathered outside the building to protest against surrender to the Prussians. The Paris Commune occupied the Hôtel de Ville and as anti-Commune troops approached the building, Communards set fire to the Hôtel de Ville destroying the interior and leaving only an exterior shell.
Reconstruction by architects Théodore Ballu and Édouard Deperthes began in 1873 and continued until 1892. A great deal of art was added to the building. Over 230 sculptors, including Auguste Rodin, produced the 338 works of art that now decorate the building.

The stamp was issued by France on October 11, 1958. It depicts the Hôtel de Ville on the left and the Capitoline Hill and the City Hall of Rome on the right. In between is written JUMELADE (TWINNING). It was issued to foster greater cultural and economic ties between he capitals of Paris and Rome.

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The Capitoline Hill Cordonata 

and 

Palazzo Senatorio

Rome, Italy

Quick Description: 

The Capitoline Hill Cordonata leads up to the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome.

Long Description:

The Cordonata in Rome is a sloping pedestrian pathway which has ramps with widely spaced transverse risers in place of regular steps. It leads up from the Piazza di Ara Coeli to the Piazza del Campidoglio. This area of Rome was designed by Michelangelo from 1536–1546. 

At the top of Capitoline Hill is Rome's civic center, the Palazzo Senatorio. Built during the 13th and 14th century, the Palazzo Senatorio "Senatorial Palace" is where once the Roman archives were stored. The Palazzo Senatorio now houses Rome's city hall. 

The statues leading up to the Piazza del Campidoglio represent the Dioscuri - the mortal Castor and the immortal Pollux, the mythical twins of the immortal Zeus and mortal Tyndareus. The pair are the patrons of sailors.

Philatelic Photograph: Pont Neuf - Paris, France

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Pont Neuf

(New Bridge)

Paris, France

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N48° 51.465; E002° 20.511

Quick Description: 

The Pont Neuf (New Bridge) spans the River Seine at the western tip of the medieval part of Paris, the Île de la Cité.

Long Description:

Ironically, the Pont Neuf (New Bridge) is the oldest bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. The bridge is composed of two separate spans. Five arches join the left bank to the river island the Île de la Cité. Seven arches join the island to the right bank. The characteristic bastions between the arches give the bridge a fortified appearance. At one time the bridge merely skirted the tip of the island; but, the buildup of a sandbar on the downstream portion of the island has created a large parcel of land which is now a public park, the Square du Vert-Galant.

In 1577, King Henry III decided to construct a bridge across the Seine. The King laid the first stone in 1578 under the direction of Baptiste Androuet du Cerceau. In the same year the foundations of four piers and one abutment were completed. After a long delay, beginning in 1588, due in part to the Wars of Religion, construction was resumed in 1599. The bridge was opened on 20 June 1603, under the reign of Henry IV. The King christened it four years later, in 1607, with the name it bears today.

Over the years, the Pont Neuf has undergone a great deal of repair and renovation. From 1848 - 1855, the seven arches of the northern arm were modified by changing the arches from an nearly semi-circular to compound curve arches in order to reduce the slope of bridge. The roadway and sidewalks were lowered and faces of the piers, spandrels, cornices, and corbels were restored to their original appearance. A major restoration of the Pont Neuf was begun in 1994 and was completed in 2007, the year of its 400th anniversary.

The Pont Neuf has a total length of 238 meters and is 20 meters wide. The span of the arch is 15 to 19 meters on the larger arm and 10 to 16 meters on the small arm.

The stamp was issued by France on May 27, 1978 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the start of construction of the bridge. It depicts the north arm of the Pont Neuf looking upstream from the west with the Île de la Cité in the background. The engraving suggests the appearance of the bridge in the 16th century. The buildings of the Île de la Cité appear as they do today with one (artistic?) exception. La Conciergerie occupies the north bank of the island and the symmetrical buildings of the Place Dauphine at the tip of the island are easily recognize. However, on the stamp, the iconic Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris is prominent on the far east end of the island. However, from this vantage point on the right bank, the famous cathedral cannot be seen.

Philatelic Photograph: Louvre (Perrault's) Colonnade - Paris, France

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Louvre (Perrault's) Colonnade

Paris, France

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N48° 51.600; E002° 20.397

Quick Description: 

The Colonnade by Claude Perrault’s occupies the easternmost façade of the Palais du Louvre in Paris, France.

Long Description:

The Palais du Louvre is a former royal palace situated on the right bank of he River Seine. It dates back to the medieval period, but its present appearance has evolved in stages since the 16th century. It was the actual seat of power in France until Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682.

In 1665, King Louis XIV held a design competition for a design for the eastern façade of the Louvre Palace. The winner was Claude Perrault, triumphing over Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Claude Perrault’s Classical Colonnade was constructed between 1667 and 1670. It was inspired by writing of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, author of treatise The Ten Books on Architecture. Architects Louis Le Vau and artist Charles Le Brun contributed to the completion of the Colonnade.

The façade is divided into five parts. The ground floor basement has paired Corinthian columns with pavilions at the ends. Columns form a colonnade with a central pediment and triumphal arch entrance. It is topped with an Italian balustrade along its flat roof. This design was, at the time, a sharp departure from traditional French architecture.

The stamp was issued in 1947 as part of set of four stamps depicting famous Paris sites issued to commemorate the 12th Congress of the Universal Postal Union held in Paris from May 7 to July 7, 1947.

Philatelic Photograph: Arc of Triomphe du Carrousel - Paris, France

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Arc of Triomphe du Carrousel

Paris, France

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N48° 51.703; E002° 19.981

Quick Description: 

The Arc of Triomphe du Carrousel is located in the Jardin du Carrousel between the Tuileries Garden and the Louvre in Paris, France.

Long Description:

This beautiful arch of triumph was commissioned by Napoleon to celebrate the victory of his army at Austerlitz. It occupies a prominent place between the Tuileries Garden and the Pyramid entrance to the Louvre.

The monument is 63 feet, 75 feet wide, and 24 feet deep. The central arch is 21 feet high. Two smaller arches on either side are 14 feet high, and 9 feet wide. Eight marble Corinthian columns are each topped by a statue of a soldier.

On bas-relief sculptures, on the the pediment between the soldiers, depict:

The Arms of the Kingdom of Italy with figures representing History and the Arts. The Arms of the French Empire with Victory, Fame, History, and Abundance. Wisdom and Strength holding the arms of the Kingdom of Italy, accompanied by Prudence and Victory.

Napoleon's diplomatic and military victories are commemorated by bas-reliefs executed in rose marble. They depict:

The Peace of Pressburg, Napoleon entering Munich, Napoleon entering Vienna, by sculptor Louis-Pierre Deseine, the Battle of Austerlitz, by sculptor Jean-Joseph Espercieux, the Tilsit Conference, the surrender of Ulm, by sculptor Pierre Cartellier.

A sign, in French, near the arch tells its history:

En 1807 - 1809, Napoléon 1er fit édifier un arc de

triomphe formant le portail monumental de la
cour du Carrousel, devant le château des Tuileries,
sa résidence impériale. Copié sur le modèle de
l'arc de Septime Sévère à Rome. dessiné par les
architectes Percier et Fontaine, l'arc est un hommage
a la Grande Armée, victorieuse à Austerlitz.
la directeur du musée du Louvre, Dominique
Vivant Denon, donna les sujets des relief qui
illustrent la campagne millitare de 1805 et la
capitulation d'Ulm la même année. La peintre
Charles Meynier en décida les compositions,
transcrites en marbre par les
meilleus sculpteurs de l'époque. Au
sommet se dressait un quadrige tiré
par les chevaux de saint-Marc, prélevés
à Venise en 1798. Sous la Restauration,
ces bronzes antiques retournerent
en Italie, et le sculpture Bosio exécuta
l'image de la france conduisant
un nouveau quadrige. Il est encadre
par deux statues de plomb doré, dues
à François lemont (1808) La Paix et
La Victorie.

English translation:

In 1807-1809, Napoleon I commissioned building an arc of

triumph forming the monumental Portal from the
the carousel Court, before the Tulleries Castle,
his imperial residence. Copy on the model
the Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome. Designed by the
Architects Percier and Fontaine, the arc is a tribute
to the Grand Army, victorious at Austerlitz.
The Director of the Museum of the Louvre, Dominique
Living Denon, gave the subjects of the relief that
illustrate the military campaign of 1805 and the
capitulation of Ulm the same year. The painter
Charles Meynier in decided the compositions,
transcribed in marble by the
best sculptors of the time. At the
Summit stood a Quadriga pulled
the horses of Saint Mark, taken
from Venice in 1798. After restoration,
these ancient bronzes were returned to
Italy, and the sculptor Bosio executed a sculpture
the their image for France creating
a new Quadriga. It is framed
by two statues of gilded lead, by
François Lemont (1808) - Peace and Victory.

The stamp was issued by Cambodia in 1990 to commemorate the World Chess Championship between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov held in Lyon, France. It series of 7 stamps shows famous French landmarks and various chess pieces.

Philatelic Photograph: L'Air - Paris, France

Interesting Places I've Photographed

L'Air (Air) 

Paris, France

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N48° 51.765; E002° 19.888
                        

Quick Description: 

The sculpture L'Air is located in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, France.

Long Description:

L'Air (Air) is an allegorical lead sculpture by Aristide Maillol. The 50.75" by 92.75" by 38" statue of a reclining nude female figure is located in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris.  The figure is lying on her right hip with her body and legs raised. She seems to be floating on air (or is actually air itself). Her right arm pointing downward and forward at a 90 degree angle and her left arm outstretched and parallel to her body. The model for the work was 19 year old Dina Vierny.  Mallol created the model for the sculpture in plaster in 1938. Both lead and bronze casts were made after his death in 1944.  Other copies of this sculpture are located at the Kröller-Müller Museum,  J. Paul Getty Museum, Norton Simon Museum, and Kimbell Art Museum.

The  stamp was issued by France on April 20, 1974 as part of a two stamp set in the Europa series featuring European sculptures.

Philatelic Photograph: Garnier Opera House - Paris, France

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Garnier (Paris) Opera House

Paris, France

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

N 48° 52.275 E 002° 19.921

Quick Description:

The Garnier Opera House is a Paris landmark located at at the north end of the Avenue de l'Opéra.

Long Description:

Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte ascending the throne as Napoléon III on December 2, 1852. He ruled as Emperor of the French until September 4, 1870. During his reign Paris needed a new and larger opera house to replace the one in Rue Le Peletier. On September 29, 1860, Napoleon III commissioned the construction of the present spectacular building. One hundred seventy-one applicants competed in the design contest, which was awarded to the then unknown architect Charles Garnier.

Work took 14 years. The front was unveiled on August 15, 1867, but the opera house officially opened much later in 1875, after the fall of the Empire and Napoléon III was no longer in power.

The Garnier Opera House is regarded as one of the great buildings of the world. It is located in a busy and crowded section of Paris where eight major roads converge. This opulent building is constructed in the classical neo-Baroque style, utilizing multicolored marbles and ornamental statuary.

If you look carefully near the roof-line of the Garnier Opera House between the gilded angel statues you can see and decode the meaning of the repeating sequence of N's and E's as seen clearly in the close up (middle) picture.


N E N E N E N E N

N (gold letter in light blue circle)= Napoleon III
E (gold letter in maroon circle) = Empress Eugénie the wife of Napoléon III

Philatelic Photograph: L'église de la Madeleine - Paris, France

Interesting Places I've Photographed

L'église de la Madeleine

(Church of the Madeleine)

Paris, France

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N48° 52.168; E002° 19.440

Quick Description: 

L'église de la Madeleine (Church of the Madeleine) is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. It is located at the head of Rue Royale in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France.

Long Description:

L'église de la Madeleine was designed to be a temple to the glory of Napoleon's Grande Armée. Two previous attempts were made to build a church on this site. The first design, commissioned in 1757 began in 1763 and was terminated in 1764. In 1777, Guillaume-Martin Couture renewed the project with a design based on the Roman Pantheon. At the start of the Revolution of 1789 work was once again halted and the existing structure was demolished in 1797.

On the symbolic date of December 2, 1806, the second anniversary of his coronation, Napoleon signed at the Posen Camp an imperial decree to erect a memorial, a Temple to the Glory of the Grande Armée, on the site of the Madeleine. A design competition was held and won by the architect Claude Étienne de Beaumont. The Emperor Napoleon, instead, awarded the commission to Pierre-Alexandre Vignon and his design based on an ancient Roman temple.

The L'église de la Madeleine is built in the Neo-Classical style inspired by the Maison Carrée at Nîmes, an exceptionally well-preserved Roman temple in southern France. The structure has fifty-two Corinthian columns, each 20 meters high, encircling the building.

After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, the restored Bourbon King Louis XVIII determined that the structure would be completed and used as a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. Pierre-Alexandre Vignon died in 1828 before completing the project and was replaced by Jacques-Marie Huvé. A new competition was held in 1828-29, to determine the designs for the pediment. Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire was awarded the commission and produced a sculpture of the Last Judgment in which Mary Magdalene is depicted at the feet of Jesus interceding for the damned.

Last Judgment by Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire

Following the July Revolution of 1830 the structure was rededicated as a monument of national reconciliation for repentance for the Revolution. The building was consecrated as a church in 1842. Today, the L'église de la Madeleine is a parish of the Archdiocese of Paris.

You would think that this important historic church would appear on a stamp from France. It actually does but only as a small addition to a stamp issued in 1954 to honor the French jewelery and metalsmith industry (Scott #714). In 2007, the African nation, the Republic of Guinea (Conakry), issued a large souvenir sheet featuring historic French monuments of Paris (Yv. #605). The single stamp on the sheet depicts the L'église de la Madeleine.