|
|
|
|
Liudmila Kondakova - Quai de Conti
|
|
Every Paris visitor knows "les quais de la Seine", the riverbanks of the Seine (the river that flows through the heart of Paris). The quais are concrete embankments and roads that hug each side of the river, with pathways that are popular for strolling and people-watching. There are often all sorts of flower and booksellers, as well as itinerant artists, who use these pathways as inspiration for their artworks. These quais (pronounced 'kay') are as old as Paris itself. As throughout every age, people have always been drawn to the river and its myriad commercial and recreational advantages.
Liudmila Kondakova, in her artistic stroll through Paris, stops this time at the Quai de Conti. Painted from a vantage point on the Ile de la Cite, with the Cathedral of Notre Dame at her back, she shows us the southern end of the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, which spans the Seine and crosses over the western trip of the Ile de la Cite, connecting the neighborhoods of Saint-Germain des Pres on the Left bank, and Les Halles on the Right bank. The Quai de Conti is part of one long road, which changes it's name every few blocks. Further down to the east, it becomes the Quai St. Michel, where Matisse lived and from his upstairs window painted the Saint Achapelle and Notre Dame.
The Eiffel Tower, unavoidably dominating the skyline and captivating the eye, reflects warmly in the setting sun. The evening lights, their reflection shimmering on the water, start to work their magic and the colors of Paris come alive. Liudmila Kondakova once again is our inspirational tour guide of Paris, as we stroll along the Quai de Conti.
|
|
|
