Le Blog de Jenny

Nouvelles du Roi de Camargue / News from the King of the Camargue

octobre 24th, 2009

2010 Calendrier des Events Camarguaise

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César Retrouvé - Caesar Recovered

août 4th, 2009

César
Retrouvé

-

Caesar
Recovered

Bust of Caesar in the restoration room of the Arles Museum of Antiquities / Buste de César dan le salon de restoration de le Musee Antique d'Arles.

Not too long ago I wrote a blog about discoveries right beneath our noses.

Now, there are huge discoveries from the waters of the Rhône river, just beneath the bridge crossing that takes us from La Burlande to the western quarter of Arles known as Trinquetaille.

     These discoveries are part of a 10-year, archaeological expedition conducted at Arles by the Department of underwater archaeological research (DRASSM).

     Directed by Luc Long, Chief Curator of the Héritage DRASSM, with the support of The Arles Museum of Antiquities, and the French Diving Federation (FFESSM), the expedition made a major find in 2007 and just this past month added numerous extraordinary excavations.

     The discoveries were kept under wraps for months to protect the pieces from thieves. Treatment, research and cataloging of excavated objects has been secretly carried out at the Arles museum facilities. An exhibit of the find may be scheduled there as early as autumn 2009.

Exceptional pieces (lifts between August and early October 2007):

- A bust of Caesar. The marble bust is the oldest representation known today of the founder of the Roman city of Arles. Typical of the series of portraits of republican era (baldness, traits due to age), it probably dates from the founding of the Roman Arles in 46 BC.

- A statue of Neptune in marble, nearly 1.80m (about 6ft) in height, dated from the first decade of 3 AD.

- A bronze statue of a bearded man with hands tied (a slave? Marsyas). This piece, about 70 cm (2.3ft) high, is perhaps the Roman copy of a Hellenistic original.

- A gilded bronze statue of Victory, about 70 cm high, appearing in half-relief, it was probably destined to decorate a wall of marble.

Apart from two bronze statues, all the evidence discovered is marble, except a base supporting a lion that seems local limestone (perhaps from Beaucaire). Added to this, a Corinthian capital, limestone capital fragments with Acanthus leaves, two stelae, an altar, columns and many architectural fragments. A total of one hundred objects were taken out of turbulent waters of the Rhône.

Researcher Giustiniani with Caesar;
photo by C. Chary
Le chercheur Giustiniani avec César;
photo par C. Chary

Victory / Victoire
photo par François Lefebvre

Captive slave (front);
photo by François Lefebvre
Guerrier captif;
photo par François Lefebvre

We learned of this project over the France3 TV network’s “Des Racines & Des Ailes” (Roots and Wings). A fascinating, well-produced program, it went in depth into the restoration work performed by the Arles museum, the submarine and scuba search of the bottom of the Rhône, and the lifelong quest of Dr. Luc Long to discover antiquities in the waters of the Rhône off Arles.

Arles’
Greek/Roman Theatre

Théâtre Antique d’Arles.

Neptune

photo par
François Lefebvre

Dr. Long has lived in Arles’ ancient center along the banks of the Rhône since his childhood. He dreamed of finding Roman antiquities even as a young boy. Today he has redrawn what was previously known of the Roman settlement and society that developed around Arles. These most recent discoveries suggest that Trinquetaille was home to Arles’ elite, living stylishly in villas around official buildings and monuments directly across the Rhône from the city port.

The treasures of ancient Arles [or “Little Rome”, as it was called] have long been relocated to the Louvre Museum in Paris; more recently, the artifacts have been on world tours. These most recent discoveries shine a new light on Arles and its history from the seldom-excavated areas of Trinquetaille. It will certainly refocus worldwide attention on the history and Roman antiquities here in Arles. … and we are excited about being among the first to view these fabulous finds!

www.laburlande.com

Captive slave (rear);
photo by François Lefebvre
Guerrier captif;
photo par François Lefebvre

Roman Coliseum in Arles
Arènes d’Arles

Information used in this text, and the photos with credits, provided by the Arles Museum of Antiquities.
L’information contenue dans ce texte, les photos et leur provenance, ont été fournies par le Musée d’Arles

Rechercher des Infos Particulières …..

août 3rd, 2009

Jenny chassant.

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Here are some of the organizations helping La Burlande . Please visit their sites. Merci !	*Quelques-unes des associations où figure La Burlande . SVP, rendez visite à leurs sites. Merci !*
		Gites, Chambres d’hôtes en Europe

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Vincent Van Gogh - Cathedrale d’Images

février 5th, 2008


Images On Stone	No matter where you are situated, there is probably something beneath your very nose. You know; an experience nearby that somehow goes undiscovered. One day your eyes are opened to its existence and its wonders, and in your stupor you ask, “How is it that I missed this place?”
At the edge of Les-Baux-de-Provence, atop the Alpilles mountain range, there is a place that goes undiscovered for many a La Burlande visitor. It is known as the Cathedrale d’Images. As visitors drive by, it seems little more than a crack in the mountain’s side, an abandoned rock quarry overlooking “le Val d’Enfer” (the Valley of Hell), but within and upon its stone walls one will revel in the sights and sounds of extraordinary, artistic creations.

Each year new programs designed and built around a theme, pay tribute to the eloquence of photography, taking spectators on an ecstatic journey. Jenny and I have enjoyed many stirring exhibits; most recently on Cézanne and Venice. At present there is a wonderful exhibition on Vincent van Gogh. Film-maker and author, Regis Prevot, has produced an audio-visual excursion of sky and sun, landscapes and vistas of the city and countryside journeyed by the “happy painter” Prevot finds in Vincent van Gogh.

The brilliant colors and bright scenes artfully displayed across the cavern walls, ceilings and floors are those viewed from Vincent’s blazing blue eyes; his intense stare on Provence from sunrise to sunset. This is at the core of Prevot’s theme, the eyes of the painter, and the exhibition succeeds in using the stones, dimensions, and spaces of the Cathedrale d’Images to transport the spectator through van Gogh’s eyes.

This exhibit is especially delightful for the visitors to Provence, as it invites them to explore the beauties of Vincent’s land of light. Van Gogh’s eyes beheld nearby treasures such as the Alyscamps in Arles, the ruins of the Abbey of Montmajour, the fruits and harvests of the ‘Crau’ plains, and the starlit evenings among the Alpilles or along the Rhône or at a cafe terrace often enjoyed by Arles’ inhabitants. Just a bit further through the mountains he captured St. Rémy’s antiquities, gardens and streets. He also ventured to the seaside in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The exhibit stirs the viewer to experience these same sights and special places in their vacation journeys.
		Many of our guests this year have greatly enjoyed this exhibit at the Cathedrale d’Images. Several of them have taken the invitation left by Vincent van Gogh and delivered by Mr Prevot to see and sample the many colors of Provence. Join them. Come and explore!