Melinda Haunton
@melindahaunton.bsky.social
Archivist historian train traveller perennially anxious frequently cooking always interested
Tbh if you RT more than you comment I'm unlikely to follow back. I like to chat. UK based.
Tbh if you RT more than you comment I'm unlikely to follow back. I like to chat. UK based.
If you know of Mahaut and Robert of Artois (there are novels), here is a confession of forgery by a woman in favour of Robert (a nasty piece of work). And here is one genuine evidence of a crusade family, amidst a slew of a dozen other fakes because randomly Louis Philippe decided to honour them.
November 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
If you know of Mahaut and Robert of Artois (there are novels), here is a confession of forgery by a woman in favour of Robert (a nasty piece of work). And here is one genuine evidence of a crusade family, amidst a slew of a dozen other fakes because randomly Louis Philippe decided to honour them.
Tricky things to display, like a very delicate blue forgery against Dreyfus (I liked the light cover), and two genuine Carolingian papyrus charters merged into one fake Merovingian one.
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Tricky things to display, like a very delicate blue forgery against Dreyfus (I liked the light cover), and two genuine Carolingian papyrus charters merged into one fake Merovingian one.
And then illogically in geographic terms to the Archives Nationales, to an exhibition on fakes and forgers. Of all eras, really fascinating lyrics.
November 24, 2025 at 6:44 PM
And then illogically in geographic terms to the Archives Nationales, to an exhibition on fakes and forgers. Of all eras, really fascinating lyrics.
Anyway. The JA is a joy, albeit a joy chockful of very posh entitled ladies.
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Anyway. The JA is a joy, albeit a joy chockful of very posh entitled ladies.
I know the Jacquemart-André permanent collectiond pretty well, but they lend a lot so there are always interesting substitutes like this Metsys profile (replacing a glorious Rembrandt but luckily one I've seen several times before).
November 24, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I know the Jacquemart-André permanent collectiond pretty well, but they lend a lot so there are always interesting substitutes like this Metsys profile (replacing a glorious Rembrandt but luckily one I've seen several times before).
This morning's exhibition was on Georges de la Tour, 17th cent caravaggist, very good on light, very unlucky to be from Lorraine so lots of his stuff is only known in copies. But he was hugely successful
November 24, 2025 at 6:15 PM
This morning's exhibition was on Georges de la Tour, 17th cent caravaggist, very good on light, very unlucky to be from Lorraine so lots of his stuff is only known in copies. But he was hugely successful
Mph. Delays delays. Forced to eat in a brasserie again. Terrible times.
November 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Mph. Delays delays. Forced to eat in a brasserie again. Terrible times.
Two exhibitions and one brief nose into a grand magasin decked out already. That'll do, Paris. #UnconfinedWalks
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Two exhibitions and one brief nose into a grand magasin decked out already. That'll do, Paris. #UnconfinedWalks
Last time. Terrace dining fgs, but well enclosed.
November 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Last time. Terrace dining fgs, but well enclosed.
I have enjoyed my entirely pragmatic tombola of exhibitions this week. But it has been low on echt medieval, even at Cluny. This was joyful. Tiny and perfect. And there's a project website I shall explore. Yay research.
November 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I have enjoyed my entirely pragmatic tombola of exhibitions this week. But it has been low on echt medieval, even at Cluny. This was joyful. Tiny and perfect. And there's a project website I shall explore. Yay research.
And what did I find? Glorious medievalist bonus: three German paintings identified by an academic project and recently conserved and analysed, sources identified. I know you won't all like them but zoom in on the Virgin and Child background at least. It is glorious.
November 23, 2025 at 6:41 PM
And what did I find? Glorious medievalist bonus: three German paintings identified by an academic project and recently conserved and analysed, sources identified. I know you won't all like them but zoom in on the Virgin and Child background at least. It is glorious.
I did flog round their permanent collection, which is lovely but I wish you didn't have to go through it and the gift shop to leave exhibitions as I've seen it too much. Nipped upstairs for some Berthe Morisot goodness.
November 23, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I did flog round their permanent collection, which is lovely but I wish you didn't have to go through it and the gift shop to leave exhibitions as I've seen it too much. Nipped upstairs for some Berthe Morisot goodness.
I enjoyed it. Probably more if I'd come at a quieter time in the week, it was rammed. But genuinely stuff I'd never seen before or likely would have anywhere else. Hooray for imaginative curation and getting stuff out of the back catalogue.
November 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I enjoyed it. Probably more if I'd come at a quieter time in the week, it was rammed. But genuinely stuff I'd never seen before or likely would have anywhere else. Hooray for imaginative curation and getting stuff out of the back catalogue.
My ticket was to the truly random exhibition at Marmottan, about sleep. Like any themed survey, basically a chance to get out great paintings by people who don't open solo shows. Sleep in the Bible/death sleep/sexy sleep/baby sleep/nightmares/beds/you get the picture.
November 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
My ticket was to the truly random exhibition at Marmottan, about sleep. Like any themed survey, basically a chance to get out great paintings by people who don't open solo shows. Sleep in the Bible/death sleep/sexy sleep/baby sleep/nightmares/beds/you get the picture.
After which, to the west, to La Muette, a dull tube stop next to a spectacular patisserie, Yamazaki. Where since it was raining I was forced to pause till my ticket time. #TeaUp
November 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
After which, to the west, to La Muette, a dull tube stop next to a spectacular patisserie, Yamazaki. Where since it was raining I was forced to pause till my ticket time. #TeaUp
After which, lunch. Place called Buckwheat, near the Louvre. Manageable crepes. #UnconfinedWalks
November 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
After which, lunch. Place called Buckwheat, near the Louvre. Manageable crepes. #UnconfinedWalks
There's also a not-unrelated show about Paul Poiret, who pretty much bankrupted himself setting up bespoke fashion barges at the expo. More fashion types will love this, but it was interesting even to me.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
There's also a not-unrelated show about Paul Poiret, who pretty much bankrupted himself setting up bespoke fashion barges at the expo. More fashion types will love this, but it was interesting even to me.
And probably also SponCon, as it turns out there is a new Orient Express coming soon. Which is fair enough in terms of modern design based in Art Deco I think.
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
And probably also SponCon, as it turns out there is a new Orient Express coming soon. Which is fair enough in terms of modern design based in Art Deco I think.
And it finished with a focus on the Orient Express and train travel, which was super stylish
November 23, 2025 at 5:07 PM
And it finished with a focus on the Orient Express and train travel, which was super stylish
Individual lovely things! International lovely things!
November 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Individual lovely things! International lovely things!
Sets of lovely things. Designs for lovely things!
November 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Sets of lovely things. Designs for lovely things!
In all sizes too. Jade clock is maybe 8 inches high, the screen is 2m by 5m or so.
November 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
In all sizes too. Jade clock is maybe 8 inches high, the screen is 2m by 5m or so.
Look, it's just full of beautiful stuff. The alt text will kill me.
November 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Look, it's just full of beautiful stuff. The alt text will kill me.
So. I mentioned it's the centenary of the original Art Deco exhibition and I've been to a couple of small shows on it. But self, isn't there a very large central Musée des Arts Décoratifs that might have something to say on this?
Yes. Yes there is.
Yes. Yes there is.
November 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
So. I mentioned it's the centenary of the original Art Deco exhibition and I've been to a couple of small shows on it. But self, isn't there a very large central Musée des Arts Décoratifs that might have something to say on this?
Yes. Yes there is.
Yes. Yes there is.
Slight alteration of invariably practice. When exiting exhibitions too late for the nice lunch places, Breton crepes and cider it is.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Slight alteration of invariably practice. When exiting exhibitions too late for the nice lunch places, Breton crepes and cider it is.