May 25, 2017

Den of Thebes























Just a little pun perhaps. but still true enough. After all, these Egyptian wonders didn't leave their homeland of their own accord now did they?

It is important to realize upfront that there is simply no way to explore the entirety of the Louvre museum in one visit, nor three visits, nor even a whole week dedicated to the task I'd wager. A much better approach is to determine what you would like to see by choosing perhaps a single wing or department and then plan to see the rest in the same such manner upon subsequent visits. For example, the last time I traveled to Paris in 2012, I visited all of the paintings (Italian, French, etc.) in several visits. On this second visit to the city and its largest museum, I wanted to focus of the Egyptian art and the European decorative arts galleries. Even only trying to see these two areas, one day was obviously not enough, because now home and consulting a map of the building I realized somehow we missed a large portion of the decorative arts! It won't be my last visit to the museum, so I suppose that section will be first on my list next time. I get so turned around in places as vast as the Louvre, especially when loopy from jet lag. More espressos next time for sure. Still, it was amazing to see the Egyptian galleries, as I am a huge fan of ancient Egyptian aesthetics and history. 

From the huge granite statues down to the tiny fragments of jewelry, the scope of the Louve's collection of Egyptian antiquities is large. I would love to visit again and take more time and get the audio guide (we skipped it this time forgetting how little information was available in English). I find with museums sometimes one is in the mood to just admire and imagine, and other times one is in the mood to learn and invest. This visit we admired, and next time I wish to learn. The colors and textures, from painted sarcophagi to a small stone temple you could walk inside were of course beautiful and imbued with a magical quality, a strange magnetism that only centuries of time can impart.

I wore my black and brown color blocked twill suit, a silk scarf, and my favorite scarab brooch for the occasion. I like to think my love safari/adventurer styles can expand into the more polished scholar/Marion-in-DC/proud librarian zone. That's a real style right? The adventurer-at-home-to-secure-funding sorta look. One day I'll take some courses on anthropology and archaeology so I don't have to just play at looking the part ;)

I hope you enjoy these photos, it was certainly both fun and challenging to shoot in the busy galleries. As these were all shot indoors the lighting is super varied and most of my photos came out pretty grainy. The good thing about grainy photos is that when you turn them sepia they instantly look quite vintage, so at least that is a good outcome! I'll put up some of the noisy sepia ones up on Instagram soon <3



Jacket & Skirt: Made by me
Shoes: Royal Vintage Shoes
Fishnets: Amazon
Scarf: Gift
Jewelry & Clutch: Vintage

11 comments:

  1. Last time I went, I made a beeline for the French crown jewels. As you say, the Louvre is too big to do all in a day. (Were there still hordes of people taking selfies round the Winged Victory?)

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    1. We actually didn't even see Winged Victory this time somehow, we avoided the most tourist loaded areas by skipping the paintings this round!

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  2. How you look the part - that mix of historian and adventurer, with the scarf adding a further touch of élan! Truly lovely! Kx

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  3. You do indeed look the part! I too adore Ancient Egyptian history and was lucky enough to be taken to Egypt by my parents as a child. So much of the relics are on a truly awe-inspiring scale. X

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    1. Thank you Porcelina! That is so cool that you have been to Egypt! My mom went with her grandparents when she was 12, I am jealous of you both! Hopefully I will get to visit someday, I even have a friend moving to Cairo so I hope it somehow works out I can visit while she's living there perhaps :)

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  4. I was always so obsessed with Egypt when I was younger. It's just such a fascinating time period, and of course the artifacts that we have now are incredible. I think I could spend all day in that section! Love your outfit - you absolutely look like you could be taking a Nile cruise in the 1940s or 50s.

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    1. Thank you Jessica! I was too! I was really into ancient Egypt in early elementary school, but then I saw some real mummies at the San Diego Museum of Man and got totally spooked! Now when I see little kids around mummy displays in museums I'm always thinking how desensitized they seem pressing their faces to the glass! I guess I was sensitive then!

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  5. Your outfit is wonderful, and I can't tell you how much I love looking at the photo you took! As someone who is obsessed with ancient Egypt, this was a delight!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. Thank you Janey! I always love your adventurer ensembles too, they are my favorite genre of outfit <3

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  6. Great outfit, I like what you have done with the scarf. Looks like a fascinating place.

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    1. Thank you Kate-Em! The scarf idea was a magic moment for me so I am glad you noticed ;)

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