- Join for free
- Sign In
Latest Albi hotel reviews
Helpfulness
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was 21 years old when he painted this (Femme assise nue) “sitting naked woman” in 1883 (picture 1); this could denote either a premature authority and perversity, or a premature artistic sensitivity, or both, but whatever, the great painter was already there, in this painting which is a symbol of the biggest part of the rest of his life; painting, of course, but also patronizing cabarets and brothels, treating prostitutes, who in the end, were one of his inspiration source.
Toulouse Lautrec had a very distinctive style, best expressed in his lithographies or “à plat” paintings and has a big place in world art history. Albi is now proud of her son, coming from a local gentry family, but it was not the same when he was living, and when the local petty bougeois knew of his life in Paris.
Toulouse Lautrec was the son of close cousins and had a congenital malformation, looked ugly, lived his adult life as alcoholic, and died of syphilis! Uff!
With all these “handicaps” he became a great artist with a big influence on Art Nouveau, and many modern posters owe to his drawing style.
On pictures 2 and 3, are two posters showing his sober style and personal use of colours. On picture 4 is a painting of his youth (Portrait of René Princeteau).
He is the short guy on picture 5.
The famous Toulouse Lautrec Museum, set in a medieval bishops palace (art, prostitutes, bishops. . . I like that sort of improbable ties. . . ), in the city centre, has been created in 1922 and renovated in 2002; some of his major works are there.
The website shows many paints, posters and drawings, if you want to have an idea.
Written Jan 16, 2009
Website: http://www.toulouselautrec.free.fr/home.htm
Helpfulness
Any news from La Pérouse?
There was no Internet at the end of the 18th century, neither VT, for getting online news from the travel world at that time. When Louis XVI, last of the Capet dynasty of kings of France asked this to the executioner upon walking up the scaffold where Dr Guillotin’s machine was ready to chop his head off, Jan 21st 1793, La Pérouse was probably dead since at least 3 years in the Pacific Ocean, near the island of Vanikoro.
La Pérouse, despite having grown up in Central France became an outstanding sailor and explorer, acknowledged (even by British researchers) as a “son of Cook”;
A link to an English page about La Pérouse: http://www.fullbooks.com/Laperouse.html, where you may learn more about this “son of Albi”, or this one, in French http://lemysterelaperouse.blogspot.com/. La Pérouse begins to be well known in France as, since a few years, a much publicised research is conducted, in the reefs of Vanikoro where the wrecks of the Astrolabe and the Boussole have been identified, and many remains have been brought back to surface.
Well, in Albi is a “Lycée La Pérouse”, a rue La Pérouse, associations with his name, etc. . . . . I like the unexpected, the people out of the norm, and smile, thinking about this great navigator, who has his origins far inland, had never seen a boat before the age of 20, but learned to know sailors, the winds, the oceans. . and became as skilled as the sailors from Bretagne or Great Britain (he trashed during an expedition in the Hudson Bay). But he did not spark off many navigation vocations in his hometown. . . . .
Updated Jan 16, 2009
I dont know what it was... was it just a unique painting/art or was it something to make a place more attractive but the longer I visited these towns in South France the more I found out that you find these masive paintings on walls, showing a 3D view...
Written Apr 8, 2006
What a strange bacony. Isn't it ?
Romeo would have an easier task with Juliet with such a balcony...
Written May 4, 2003
1 - 4 of 4
Sponsored Links
1 Review and 99 Opinions We stayed two nights at this hotel and had breakfast and dinner there each evening. It has the...
1 Review and 3 Opinions The boss is the son but the retired father seems to do anything there. He is very kind and helpful....
61 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Albi attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Albi sightseeing.
What a strange bacony. Isn't it ?Romeo would have an easier task with Juliet with such a balcony...
2 members live in Albi
Q: Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone knows what a bike ride from Albi to Cordes Sur Ciel might be like. Google maps puts it at...
A: It is 25 km but D600 is a rather busy road. I would suggest you to take smaller roads that are almost parrallel to D600. That should add a few km but it will be quieter...
Read 5 Replies
1
I travel by car through central France at least twice a year, between Pau and my hidden den in the Forez and I like to change itineraries, to look at the beautiful countryside of Midi Pyrenees and...
2
Albi is a nice city some 76 kms. north east of Toulouse, and just for the Cathedral, it deserves a visit. Pics: - Main: Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile - Second: Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile - Third: Albi...
4
Albi is called "red" because the ancient city was built with local red bricks : the churches, the palaces and the houses. It was set up more than 3 thousands years ago and has many things to show to...
5
Almost 8C After Its Inquisition
We arrived by car from Carcassonne, via Castres (we have Tips on both). Our hotel for the two night stay was on the far bank of the Tarn overlooking the river with the stern Cathedral of St.-Cecile......
Build your own Albi page
Sponsored Links
