Paris Street, Rainy Day...The 'Intransigents' Bequest...and a Luncheon....

Paris Street, Rainy Day (1877) by Gustave Caillebotte
Art Institute of Chicago
wikipedia

The above painting by Gustave Caillebotte is the 2nd most famous artwork in the Art Institute of Chicago (the first being the subject of my previous post). It's huge. Rather than give dimensions, below is a pic that better demonstrates it's scale.

Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection, 1964.336

Medieval to Modern European Painting and Sculpture   Gallery 201

Cailleboite is one of my favorite people in history and not for being almost in the very top rank of great painters but rather for how he treated his fellow artists. He was the youngest in the group that came to be known as 'The Impressionists' to also include Renoir, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gaugain, Manet, Sisley and Pissarro.  While Caillebotte correctly thought himself not on the same level  as Monet and Renoir and others he did manage to create a few masterpieces that only their very best work exceeds and he reminds us that schadenfreude is German not French which Caillebotte didn't practice in any language. He was a great friend and benefactor to his fellow artists using the considerable wealth he inherited to enrich all humanity. Caillebotte purchased numerous paintings from these fellow Impressionists thereby giving them much needed money to live on and creating a market. Many of his fellow 'Intransigents' as they were once referred, or Impressionists were rejected by the Salon so Caillebotte organized, financed, and promoted exhibitions bringing these future acknowledged masterpieces to public attention.

In his will, Caillebotte bequeathed to France his vast collection of now priceless paintings which the State accepted...reluctantly.

Gustave Caillebotte Self  Portrait
Musee d'Orsay
wikipedia

I can't help but think that a then unknown and struggling Monet, fresh off a sudden windfall from selling a few paintings to Caillebotte, took one of his afternoon journeys to the bakery that served those pastries he so loved. I imagine in those quiet, delicious moments of triumph he felt affirmation of his revolutionary style from a keen eye he respected and now had enough money to ease everyday burdens. It is often these timely, helpful gestures that invigorate an artist's soul into realizing a creative vision which for Monet was painting the beautiful pictures many tens of millions still stare at in awe and wonder over a century later.

We at The Den love the fine example Gustave Caillebotte set and will be looking for opportunities to honor him. We also know that in so many ways he was responsible for the most beautiful luncheon ever held.

Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881) by Renoir
The Phillips Collection Washington DC
Front right in white shirt and straw boater is Caillebotte
wikipedia

Please look in over at American Alconleigh as our dear co-conspirator is fresh back from walking the Paris Streets on a Rainy Day.

Den Wear Sneak Peak Part II

Den Intimates© introduces the Boadicean Brassiere

Only yesterday Naomi gave me the business about starting a line of intimate apparel without any support for the hourglass's top half. Bebe rummaged through her attic searching for a few family heirlooms that could provide inspiration.  In an old trunk she came across an old family matriarch's riding habit only this matriarch wasn't just some Grand Dame who rode sidesaddle to picnics at Exmoor; she was Boadicea, the Joan of Arc of Late Antiquity who led 100,000 men into battle against the Roman Army and sacked their cities of Camulodunum, Londinium, and Verulamium (GSL likes gals with moxie).  Bebe had the metalsmiths at her Woodcock Pocket atelier fashion a replica of Boadicea's breastplate out of a special lightweight alloy that won't rust, tarnish, or even dent from high caliper rounds fired from point blank range.  Even Madonna could look fierce in this.

Now ladies, don't ask me about fit, sizing, or support issues; Bebe can help you with all that.  Remember, GSL is a caboose man.

Boadicea exhibiting  'command presence'.  After her husband, a tribal King, died, she was flogged by the Roman Army and her daughters were raped...but she doesn't do victim groups. She leads men into battle and sacked 3 of their cities.
 

Den Wear Sneak Peak

 

Ladies, I really do read my fan mail (Curator, what is that lovely scent you mist over the watermark?) and while I am deeply touched by the high praise I regret that my work in the field doesn't allow me to respond to each and every one of you individually.  However there has been a common thread running through many of these epistles of yearning and we here at The Den wish to assuage your cravings and bring out a line of undies to help gird your loins between posts. My co-conspirator, Bebe, has been tasked to take charge of quality control.  Karl Lagerfeld loaned me his best tailor, Marcel, to help arrive at the right design...by the way I find the French only excel at food, wine, and cutting panties.  This is just a sneak peak until we roll out the whole line next March in Paris.

Below is a selfie Bebe sent me donning a prototype of The Lion's Den Kitten Panty in Faux Fuchsia
*GSL would never ever knowingly caress an under cushioned caboose (The Devil's Deficit), and yes, thongs revolt me.




The Lion's Den Kitten Panty from Den Intimates© as modeled by Bebe.
As you can see Bebe has been no stranger at the gym. She reports that she got her pleasing hip to waist ratio by pounding a tractor tire with 20 pound sledgehammer for 3 hours every day.
 

~GSL

Greetings

Acknowledgements (Part I of III)

On my first posts I wanted to recognize a few blog chums that have made a special impact on me.

But first, I want to thank the wonderful Jennifer Connolly from A Well Styled Life who was kind and generous enough to lend a helping hand to this lumbering Luddite and get my long overdue blog set up and operational.  She had a lousy client but showed remarkable patience in assisting me.  I am most grateful Jennifer.

BeBe, back in the day, about to head out West.

 

                             

                                        The Co-Conspirator

BeBe from American Alconleigh

Bebe and I only first connected back in January as she had just begun her blog American Alconleigh and we ran into each other on other blogs and Pinterest.  I was struck by how in sync we were almost immediately. Via email and more recently on twitter we've been having this very modern age "relationship" albeit with my respectful acknowledgment that she's happily married to what my intel reveals to be a fine man who is a devoted husband and father.  Bebe is whipsmart, wickedly funny, and has an ear for dialog as good as anyone I've ever come across.  Furthermore, she has the makings of a great writer which I want to encourage her to pursue more diligently as her two beautiful daughters will soon be off at college and she'll then have more time to develop her great gift.

One Sunday morning a couple of months ago, I read an interesting article by the Chicago Tribune's chief Theatre critic, Chris Jones, who mentioned how well collaborative writing worked for those excellent cable series such as House of Cards, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, et al and a similar collaborative environment could also benefit the Theatre community. I immediately emailed Bebe the article as I just so happened to have a storyline that had been bouncing around in my head for a couple of years that had a male lead a little like me and a female lead that would be very well served  if she bore some resemblance to Bebe.  I started sending her summaries on scenes and she gave very helpful feedback and soon a rough draft for an outline took shape that I am hopeful we will one day soon complete together into a novella or play.  It was the excitement of connecting to a kindred spirit that kept the ball rolling as I always felt she was drawing the best out of me.

That collaboration with Bebe showed this Lone Wolf that we operate much better when we have others with which to hunt, share the spoils, and defend.  Mother Nature has always struck me as the most sensible of women and now I can finally see her logic behind discouraging isolation.

 ~GSL