7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan - Blake's Phantom

Last night saw the opening of the 7th Rencontre Artistique Monaco - Japan in the Auditorium Rainer III. It's a marvellous space overlooking Port Hercule and of course 'le tout Monaco' was there including many Japanese ladies wearing traditional dress - wonderful!

Each artist showed one work only.  This beautiful piece is by the well-known Canadian sculptor Blake, whose studio is in Monaco.  This is one of his new series called Phantom and yes, that's real gold leaf which I believe takes over a week to apply. This sculpture is called Phantom Sky.

The exhibition continues today and tomorrow - 11h to 19h.

Jules Massenet

Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era.

This statue stands, where it should, outside Monte Carlo's opera house, which is to our left.

Today, Monaco doesn't look like this photo - it's raining heavily and has been for days ... 

The Ring

Who would buy a ring like this - and why?  It's for sale in a shop just around the corner from the Café de Paris.

The Fur Coat

You'd need to be rich to trail a mink on the ground like this, wouldn't you?  

And for all you animal lovers, I'm one too!  No animal should be killed for its fur - or for anything else, come to that.   I'm simply your friendly Monte Carlo photographer reporting on what I see ... on this occasion at the Cafe de Paris. 

The Jolly Chef

What a jolly chef!  He's about to enter the plastic covered terrace of his restaurant on le rocher.

Spring!

This is the promenade between Fontvieille and Cap d'Ail - the port of Cap d'Ail is to the right.

Looks like Spring to me!

The Watch Tower

The watch tower and beyond, Cap Martin and Italy.

Narrow

Here's yet another passageway on le rocher - this one so narrow it needs to be properly lit.

Don't you just love imagining what it would have been like to live here centuries and centuries ago?

Café de Paris - Coffee?

The terrace of the Café de Paris in Casino Square.  Fancy a coffee in the sunshine?

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Click HERE to see how other City Daily Photo bloggers around the world have interpreted the theme of  'Café Chairs.'

'There be dragons ...' in the Casino Gardens

'It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.'

~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Marilyn and the Eiffel Tower

What's a tee-shirt of Marilyn Monroe and the Eiffel Tower doing on sale in Monaco? Anyway it's yours for 17 euros.

A Fringe of Green

One of the many beautiful trees in the Casino Gardens.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Painter

We are back outside the Chapel de la Miséricorde where the walls outside are still being painted. Remember this man and his shadow? I love watching artisans work - the concentration and attention to detail is evident in the expression on his face.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Lamps

Our last day inside the beautiful Chapel de la Miséricorde on le rocher.  Here are some beautiful lamps tucked away behind the altar.

Happy Sunday everyone! Pouring with rain here and probably snowing higher up in the hills ...

Chapel de la Miséricorde - Simplicity

As you see, no pews in the Chapel de la Miséricorde - just simple wooden chairs and a sculpture of Christ in a silk-lined glass case.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Crosses

A similar shot to yesterday except this shows off the row of simple crosses to be found at the back of the altar. These would be used during the procession of the penitents.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Painting

Walk behind the altar in the Chapel de la Miséricorde and this is what you find.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - Beauty

Another beautiful sculpture in the Chapel de la Miséricorde.  I wish I knew the story of this sculpture - perhaps someone does?

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Golden Lady

This gold sculpture is one of many objets d'art in the Chapel de la Miséricorde.

Chapel de la Miséricorde - the Beauty Inside

The Chapel de la Miséricorde on le rocher was completed in 1646.  25% of the population had died of the plague in 1631 with the last death on the 21st November which is the day of the Feast of Our Lady.  In recognition of this, Prince Honoré II  decreed that on the eve of Good Friday each year a procession of penitents, made up of local residents, should set off from the chapel.

These photos were taken with a 50mm lens but I'll  go back one day with a wide-angle. It's a truly beautiful chapel.

More tomorrow ...