Grand Palais; a focus on El Greco and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
This autumn, we celebrate Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and El Greco at the Grand Palais. From the inspiring cultural movement that was the Renaissance to the carefree gaiety of Parisian nights during the Belle Époque, the two artists have each in their own way made a profound impact on the history of art. Rediscover them through two exhibitions during your stay at the Hotel d'Angleterre in Paris.
Toulouse-Lautrec; more than just the illustrator of Montmartre
Heir to a long aristocratic lineage going back to the counts of Toulouse, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was an artist intrinsically linked to the late 19th century. His posters advertising cabarets such as the Moulin Rouge have become a part of our collective cultural memory. Toulouse-Lautrec, however, was much more than a herald of the pleasures of Paris. His lucid and funny representations of things and people characterised his work and he influenced the artistic currents that came after, including Futurism. The Grand Palais pays tribute to the artist by presenting an exhibition of 200 of his works, reflecting a broader perspective than that of his being just the illustrator of Montmartre.
El Greco; bridging the Renaissance and the Golden Age
A very different pictorial temperament is expressed in the South-East Gallery of the Grand Palais. The El Greco exhibition is the largest ever dedicated to this great painter who forged an artistic link between the 16th and 17th centuries. Born in Crete, trained in the Byzantine art tradition, and building his reputation in Venice and Rome, Domenico Theotokopoulos, known as El Greco (The Greek) finally offered Spain his exceptional talent. This was in the 1570s, the time of the construction of the monastery-palace of El Escorial. Heir to Titian, Tintoretto and Michelangelo, El Greco was inspired to create his own way, his visionary style later captivating the Romantics. The Grand Palais pays tribute to him this autumn. Take a delightful stroll there along the banks of the Seine from the Hotel de l'Angleterre.
******
More information:
Hotel d'Angleterre, a charming hotel at the heart of Saint Germain des Prés