Changeable

Normally we would be expecting weather like this in April. These photos were taken 25 minutes apart yesterday afternoon. Just as it looked as if the heavy rain was setting in, it stopped.

Which is a pity, because we could do with some rain.

A New French Phrase

 A new term for me: "Sans exhausteur de goût" = "no added flavour enhancers".

Although I could guess from the context I was curious enough to ask the checkout operator what an 'exhausteur de goût' was. Her response was that 'c'est quelque chose qui ramène du goût'. Then a shrug, and she added 'c'est chimique'. Literally, 'it's something that brings back flavour. It's chemical.'

The product in question, for those of you wondering, is thin slices of turkey breast wrapped around slices of ham and cheese, then crumbed. It's really intended for children I think, not really considered a grown up's meal in this cheap and cheerful version. The portion size is certainly small anyway. I buy them occasionally because I can do them in the air fryer and have a quick light cheap meal for the two of us, served with steamed veggies.

Please Watch Your Dogs

Photographed at Pearl Beach, just north of Sydney

Aussie Moth

In contrast to yesterday's moth, photographed in our salon, this is an Australian Hawk Moth.

Hippotion scrofa is about twice the size of yesterday's moth, a fairly hefty beast with a 70mm wingpspan. It's found in Australia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Susan photographed this one in the Australian Alps last year.

I identified it using ChatGPT. If you use the right prompts, it's quite a useful tool.

Night Visitors

During the recent warm spell we have had our windows open at night to cool the house down. This works really well, but it does get fluttery.

I don't know what this medium sized (about 3cm across) moth is, but it's quite pretty. Most of the other moths (and there are a lot of them) are quite plain.

The Pieta of Jean Fouquet

Nouans Les Fontaines is a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. And yet it holds a great medieval treasure. In the church, behind the altar, in the space it was created for, is a large 15th century painting. The church is open to all who know of the painting's existence and who want to see it. 

 

The church in Nouans les Fontaines.

Just recently I was passing and had time so I popped in. I was not the only person who had done the same. The two men already there knew it well and we had a lovely chat.

 

Detail of the priest's hands.

Jean Fouquet was a native of Tours. He was a painter, illuminator, miniaturist and highly regarded portraitist. Today, in art historian circles, he is recognised as one of the greatest creatives of his age. Outside of art history though he is forgotten.

 

Detail of the priest's robe.

At the confluence of influences coming from the Flemish and Tuscan artists who dominated European painting at this time, his art profoundly changed French painting of the 15th century.

 

Detail, showing Joseph of Arimathea, Christ, John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary.

Several versions of the story of the origins of this painting exist, but it was probably commissioned by the unknown white robed canon (priest) on the right in about 1450. It was rediscovered in 1911 by Paul Vitry, Curator of Sculpture at the Louvre, who came from the Touraine. The painting at that point was situated in the tribune of the church.

 

Pieta by Jean Fouquet (dimensions 2.36 m x 1.47 m).

 Paul Vitry only brought the painting to the attention of the authorities in 1931, and it was very quickly classified as a historic monument. Then in 1932 it was shown in London as part of a major exhibition of French art.

 

The interior of the church, with the painting behind the altar.

The painting was fully restored in 1980 by the Museums of France Research Laboratory, before an exhibition at the Louvre of the works of Jean Fouquet in 1981.