Nevertheless, on the hill of St. Genevieve Dumas met motley company. In addition to the five writers - Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola and Andre Malraux - from 70 national heroes, buried in the Pantheon, the French have a hearing on a maximum half. Even in encyclopedic dictionaries have not the slightest mention of, say, Madame Berthelot - the only woman, registered in the tomb of the great sons of France. Who knows, that she was his wife, a chemist Marcellin Berthelot? Here is buried the remains of four dozen noble people of the First Empire, two-thirds of which are known only to historians. Near the heart of Prime Minister Leon Gambetta, sarcophagi scientist Pierre Curie and President Raymond Poincare, the inventor of the alphabet for the blind Louis Braille and Abbe GreguaraY complete absence of any system - Parisian necropolis no analogue Kremlin wall.
First place in the pantheon distributed by the decision of the National Assembly and the leadership of the noisy parliament vary depending on the direction of the revolutionary wind blowing over France. But beginning with the 1918 decision on "panteonizatsii" take the president on the recommendation of deputies, senators or academics. But as we know, every master of the Elysee their advisers and their preferences. For example, Charles de Gaulle in 1964, organized with the filing of the Minister of Culture André Malraux (later also "prescribed" in the Pantheon), the ceremony of burial ashes of Jean Moulin, the hero of the anti-Hitler resistance, murdered by the Nazis. And Francois Mitterrand began in 1981, his presidency the way with grand transfer to the Pantheon remains the leader of French socialists early XX century, Jean Jaures. We must pay tribute to Jacques Chirac: unlike his predecessors, he did not give "panteonizatsii" politicized by selecting the heroes of Dumas, an absolute figure.
By the way, it does happen, that remains a national hero in triumph contributed to the Pantheon to some time with no less enthusiasm to throw his ashes in a nearby cemetery of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont. The first is so ungrateful fate Mirabeau. In 1791, 400,000 people walked behind the hearse first speaker of the Constituent Assembly, which decided it was buried in the Pantheon. And two years later they are accused of treason Mirabeau ... Another temporary inhabitant of the Pantheon - Marat. He was - suffering from eczema thickset little man, not bad doctor and a brilliant journalist - is worshiped at him almost in prayer. From it depended the fate of the country and the lives of its citizens. But the July evening, Charlotte Corday has put an end to one of the Jacobin dictator: he was stabbed to death in their own bathtubs. A year later, the coffin with the remains of Marat, colorfully covered with purple cloths and took them all over Paris to the Pantheon. The triumph was incredible, really popular! Three months later, the same crowd that has made a triumph of Marat on his shoulders in the Pantheon, threw his body into the street. Rumor says that even the hungry dogs of the cemetery should beguile the remains of the man many decades had been ordered to call no differently as a bloodthirsty villain.
Alexandre Dumas pere, however, these painful historical reminiscences do not relate to: Stories on Olympus, he is not a lodger, and a full dweller. By signing this spring, a decree transferring the ashes of the great novelist in the Pantheon, Jacques Chirac, a fanatical admirer of literature, did not hide his enthusiasm. It was noticeable that the president had seen for a long political career, much, much agitated, leading the procession, which generated dust owner of Monte Cristo "in the Pantheon. Chirac is well aware of the deep political meaning of this action. No wonder he said: "Read and revere Dumas - to love France."
http://www.itogi.ru/pda/archive/2002...94.html?page=1

Literary "canonization" Malraux Chirac, of course, was an example for Sarkozy. Name Albert Camus in the list after Malraux seems as natural as the transition from literature of the "lost generation" of existentialism. The influence of senior writer at the junior course; Camus even engaged transcription prose Malraux for the theater. And if the authorities are talking about transferring the ashes to the Pantheon Camus half a century after his death, that Malraux was buried in a mausoleum in 20 years after his death.
It is, however, take into account the difference between the two French classics. Malraux, after the war and cast literature devoted himself to social activities: he became the party's ideology "Rally for the Republic", and then the minister of culture in the government of de Gaulle. Camus also never been a statesman, nor even as a fierce fighter, a politician, like other existentialists. This is the difference in civilian positions of writers and played a role in the matter of panteonizatsii author of "Plague".
The intention Nicolas Sarkozy Camus tribute to France journalists have learned in 10-late November. Sam French president plans almost did not comment, saying only that such a recognition of merit Camus seems to be appropriate and that he supported the idea wholeheartedly. At the same time Sarkozy said that the issue be discussed with the heirs of Albert Camus, without the permission of which no steps have been taken can not be. According to Le Monde, the representative head of state has met twice with the son of the writer, first on November 12 and then the 20 th, when the possibility of transfer of the remains already in full discussed in the press. Given that Jean Camus clearly opposed panteonizatsii father, then we can conclude that Sarkozy has persisted, and not just so.
With reporters writer's son is not talking, but friends of Jean Camus resulted in favor of his decision two simple arguments. First, the intention of the President is in contradiction with the last will of his father, who wanted to be buried in Lurmarene. Secondly, the heir does not want the name Camus served as a state. Point.
Was less categorical twin sister Jean Camus, Catherine. She and a brother, stressed that their father did not like the rewards and avoid state honors as "claustrophobic". Nevertheless, Catherine noted that, of course, such praise writer fully deserved, and that for someone to transfer his remains to the Pantheon would be important as the fact that the final recognition of Camus.
Many opponents panteonizatsii writer say that it is contrary to his position in life. With this easy to accept, if we remember the heroes of Camus: Meursault, "outsider" empty social conventions, and Dr. Bernard Rieux of "Plague", a fighter-philosopher, who are alien to ostentatious heroism and pathos of the. However, in addition to such "internal" explanations are also external, political, that come not only from the life and work of Albert Camus, how many of the interests of Nicolas Sarkozy.
This argument is extremely simple. The President has recently lost popularity, and his proposal was widely seen as an attempt to raise his rating. Clearly it is formulated Olivier Todd, a biographer of the writer: Albert Camus does not need to Sarkozy. On the contrary, it is Sarkozy wants to borrow from Camus his intellectual brilliance. " Opponents see the head of state in his actions a special cynicism: "right" politician with avtoritaristskimi manners encroaches on the glory of the charismatic philosopher single, humanist, one of the symbols of the French intellectual. "Sarkozy - a friend of Bush, Gaddafi, Putin and Berlusconi - angry French academic Jean-Yves Guerin. - His policy is opposite to all the values that are defended Camus. Recall the relationship of the current French government with a community of writers, namely, the unofficial ban on criticizing the president for the winners of the Prix Goncourt. And although Jean Camus did not argue in detail its decision in the media, many believe that he was guided by the same considerations.
It is curious that he Sarkozy, whose intellectuals so readily contrasted with the existentialist writer, rather inclined to draw parallels between his and his destiny. Camus was born in Algeria and was not full-blooded Frenchman (his mother was a Spaniard), Sarkozy was born to a Hungarian immigrant and a French Jewish descent. The French president once said that thanks to Camus feels a sense of nostalgia, arriving in Algeria, although it biographically nothing connects with the North African States. Camus's attempt to introduce to the Pantheon and equate his way to Hugo and Voltaire, regarded by many in the context of public debate about national identity, which initiated Sarkozy.
While Jean Camus persists and remains of his father lying untouched in a cemetery in Lurmarene, President of the Fifth Republic may be considered a loser in this story. The French leftist intellectuals opposed Sarkozy united front and not let "take away" from a writer. This scandal, of course, had no effect on the reputation of Albert Camus, the most charismatic personality of French literature of XX century. He gripped the minds and the embodiment of conscience of Europe during his lifetime, and for five decades after his death did not lose that status. In recent years, noted the French journalists, the popularity of the second main European existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, has steadily declined, and author of "Plague", a figure far less controversial, is the zenith of fame. We can assume that the idea of romantic rebellion against the death was again important for the reading public. The battle against the surrounding Camus absurdity does not stop, the writer keeps the strike.
Cyril tadpoles
http://lenta.ru/articles/2009/11/25/camus/

At the turn of two centuries, the artist settled in London at the Hotel Savoy, a friend advised him, the American artist James Whistler painted the views of the River Thames directly from your room. Monet's advice and stayed at the Savoy "three times: in 1899, 1900 and 1901. In total, he has lived and worked there for six months, is inextricably linked in this way the name of the hotel with one of the most famous episodes in the history of Impressionism.

In the "Savoy", however, about this episode is not remembered before the start of the XXI century. Only in the "zero" Hotel managers have decided to equip the theme "Monet Room" - the one in which the artist lived and wrote in the mornings views of the Thames. The businessmen took the case thoroughly, evidence of this - the price: the night in a double room is 720 pounds, a special two-day program with lunch and dinner, wines, cocktails and a tour of the National Gallery, which are the work of Monet - 2600 pounds.

Dual "Monet Room" is equipped on the fifth floor, in rooms 512 and 513. However, it had to happen that the decision to test its methods come from critics of the University of Birmingham. Their motivation was clear: Monet is known for his precision, thoroughness in the image area, or the Savoy or the Thames, no bridges since 1900 have not gone away and therefore, the picture can understand exactly where the artist was, when the draw.

However, the advance it was known that during three trips to London, Monet stayed in different rooms. In his first visit painter lived on the sixth floor, but in 1900 it was rebuilt under the hospital wards for the soldiers who were wounded in the Anglo-Boer War, and the artist had to settle on the floor below. In a series of paintings from Waterloo Bridge captures the view from it the fifth floor: in this, scientists were convinced, by comparing his paintings with the way Thames depicted Whistler. It is known that an American artist living in the Savoy on the sixth floor, on his painting for the bridge is seen the wide section of the river, and a Monet - only a narrow strip of water.

As Monet worked on the London landscape? Ezheutrenne he ate two English breakfast, and then, sitting in the hotel, drew the sunrise over Waterloo Bridge and Charing Cross. He then crossed the river and from the hospital of St. Thomas drew the parliament building. The artist with him were about a hundred canvases: to reflect the look of London's attractions as accurately as possible, he drew on each of them only at certain times of day and under certain weather conditions (this method works Monet already tested when he created a series devoted to the stacks and Rouen Cathedral). This Westminster and bridges in the London series of Monet shine a wide variety of shades of mist.

Thus, critics have undertaken to check where exactly was supposed to be an observer to see the Thames and bridges as depicted in paintings. A reference to them served as Cleopatra's Needle - the ancient Egyptian obelisk, set on the Victoria Embankment. Researchers compared how the situation is relatively needle bearings of the bridge when viewed from different windows of the building. They came to a disappointing for "Savoy" conclusion: it turns out, Monet did not live in the "Non Monet, and in the neighborhood - in rooms 510 and 511.

When journalists asked to comment on the staff "Savoy", they did not have to hide deception: it turns out, when the room has a theme for the first time, make an elegant atmosphere in those very rooms was impossible. It turned out that Monet lived is not nearly as elegant as the current guests are "Savoy", and shared the bathroom with the inhabitants of three other rooms. His room was turned into luxury apartments only in 1910, when they were destroyed and balconies, one of whom worked for the artist. But now the hotel is a large-scale repairs, and representatives of "Savoy" has promised that, when in September the hotel will reopen for visitors, "Monet Room" will be located at the right place.

Cyril tadpoleshttp://lenta.ru/articles/2010/06/03/monet/

The situation on the art market to possess. The art of the first half of the twentieth century is on the rise. Over the past six months has been established two world records: "Nude on a background of green leaves and bust" by Pablo Picasso has collected 106.5 million dollars, "Running man I" Alberto Giacometti - 104,3 million dollars. "Water-Lilies" were to continue the series of records. A curious fact. Christie's sold this same work (1906) Ten years ago, with great success. In 2000 she became the most expensive lot of trades and went for 20.9 million dollars. This time, the experts expected to help out a sheet of at least 45-60 million dollars and called it the top hit the auction.

However, collectors have made their verdict. The stakes could hardly reached up to 43.5 million. No one else offered. The picture was removed from the auction. With "water lilies" has happened for the first half century of their sales at Christie's (the first Monet in this plot was sold in 1959 for 13,000 pounds). Why did this happen? "The film aroused great interest among our customers, but when the time came to" click ", they behave passively", - told Izvestia, the representative of Christie's Sandra Nedvetskaya. Her colleague Matthew Paton said that now, when the bidding ended, collectors have been active again, and, perhaps, work will still be sold.

Whatever it was, "Christie's should be proud of precedent. On Thursday, the auction showed: collectors do not lend themselves to experts. They decide for themselves. Such conscious clientele today, few people can boast.

Why Water-Lilies "cause stir at auction? On this question, "Izvestia said Vitaly Mishin, a leading researcher Pushkin Museum of Fine:" Perhaps the fact that the pictures on this motif, has long entered the consciousness of the broad community of art lovers. They are strongly associated with the name of Monet, as are numerous and are found in many museums around the world. However, I think, if on the art market by some miracle appeared on canvas in a series of councils, he would not have attracted less interest. "

http://www.izvestia.ru/culture/article3143312/