French · Medieval Art and Architecture

My Level-Headed Update on Notre-Dame de Paris, One Year After the Fire

It has been exactly one year since the horrible fire that almost destroyed the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. My article for DailyArt Magazine aims to be a balanced assessment of Notre-Dame's current status and also my celebration that the cathedral still stands on the first anniversary of its near destruction.

French · Gargoyles

Charles Meryon’s “Le Stryge” (a Grotesque)

Charles Méryon (1821-1868) was a very talented French etcher who is best known for his series of prints depicting Paris. (Etching is a form of printmaking.) One of his most famous prints depicts a grotesque on the façade of Notre-Dame de Paris. Apparently, Méryon's image is a big part of how this grotesque became so iconic.