Love can take many forms, and they have inspired artists of every era. The Musée des Avelines, in Saint-Cloud, invites us to take a brief tour of love in art, with a new, free exhibition, presented from April 20 to September 17, 2023. Come and admire the museum's Amours imaginaires.
Around 120 works have been brought together for this exhibition. Paintings, frescoes, drawings and sculptures, dating from the early 17th century to the first half of the 20th century, make up this journey around one of the most fascinating feelings. The themes of love here are passion, sensuality anderoticism, romance, tenderness andfilial love. Through symbols or the expression of bodies, and through the play of colors, the artists tell the love stories that have marked their lives or their times.
Whatever the year, whatever the artistic movement or medium, love is always present in these works. Love is also the main theme of many stories: ancient mythologies are full of them. Eros, Aphrodite, the Graces and the Lovers are the subjects of choice for painters and sculptors. A little later, Romeo and Juliet fascinated artists, followed by Dante's Divine Comedy. These characters represent the passions of mankind, that powerful feeling of love that consumes us and decides our destiny.
But love isn't just passion. The artists also show the tenderness and gentleness that envelops our hearts... And the erotic desire that emboldens bodies. The pleasures of the flesh, sometimes tempered by a Romantic veneer, are the focus of these works, which take an interest in theintimate, gradually detaching themselves from the strict mores of the time, and delighting the senses of their viewers.
Finally, the exhibition showcases filial love, the love that unites parents and children, brothers and sisters. Here, the image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus dominates. But there are also numerous paintings immortalizing these family ties. Artists choose to depict these intimate scenes, where parents and children gather at home to share a moment. These funny or touching stories that remind us of the important links that unite them.
So, are all these loves really imaginary? If the artists were able to represent many fictional stories, they were nonetheless inspired by real feelings, shared by all. A wonderful exhibition to discover without delay.
Dates and Opening Time
From April 20, 2023 to September 17, 2023
Location
Avelines Museum
60 Rue Gounod
92210 Saint Cloud
Prices
Free
Official website
www.musee-saintcloud.fr
