A Photo Series from Paris

“The art of architecture studies not structure in itself, but the effect of structure on the human spirit.”

Geoffrey Scott, The Architecture of Humanism: A Study in the History of Taste

Here is a photo series from Paris.

View of some apartment buildings at Jardin Catherine-Labouré. The park is located on Rue de Babylone in the 7th Arrondissement. It was one of my favorite places to visit in the city.

An apartment building located in the 6th Arrondissement near the Saint Sulpice Church. Note the ornamental stonework on the facade. The first floor windows are capped by jack arches, or flat arches. They appear to be ornamental rather than structural in their design. There are also stone corbels supporting the balconies on the upper stories. The architect of the building most likely drew inspiration for their design from Classical and Renaissance architecture.

View of the Dôme des Invalides from Rue d’Estrées. It was commissioned by Louis XIV and it was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The design drew inspiration from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

View from the gardens at the Musée Rodin. The sound of the fountain was so peaceful. My favorite feature of this photo is the symmetry of the gardens and the house.

View of the intersection near Pont des Invalides. I was standing on the corner where Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt meets Cours la Reine. To the right off-camera is the Grand Palais. Looking south you can see the top of the Eiffel Tower peaking over the trees. On the building across the street you can see that the dormers have curved roofs.

A close-up of the Eiffel Tower. As you’ve probably noticed, one of the themes of this photo series is the interaction between nature and city.

An apartment near Rue Jacob. I was walking to visit the Musée national Eugène Delacroix and I stopped along the way to snap this photo. I love the symmetry between the two roofs. There is also another example of curved roofs over the dormers. Note there is also a statue on a pedestal in the center.

View of the backyard at the Musée national Eugène Delacroix. To the right just outside of the frame there is a staircase that leads back into the house. I visited the museum early in the morning and the surrounding buildings blocked the sounds of the city. What a dream it would be to have morning coffee at a small table surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees.

I am looking forward to my next trip. The days are also getting shorter and it is starting to feel like autumn.