Gustave Doré (1832–1883): Master of Imagination

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want to learn to draw, then trace. And trace until you're blue in the face. Do yourself a big favor and trace from Gustave Doré.

There's a huge show on at the Musée D'Orsay. It opened Wednesday. I went Thursday early days but still it was packed.

This Beaux Arts former train station, the d’Orsay, is the perfect site for 19th century illustrator Doré.

You might think you're in for a lot of fine, grey lines...quelle boring.

In fact Doré's lines could not be more invigorating and lively.

His prodigious talent was on a grand scale.

Big complicated sculptures.

Large salon paintings were all part of his metier.

Yet his illustrations jump off the pages of many books and journals.

 His earliest drawings are astonishing. He came to Paris as a boy of 15 from Strasbourg and dazzled publishers with his drawings.

These sketches may look simple but they foretell more complicated pictures.

Film makers, cinematographers turn to Doré's elaborate illustrations for inspiration for their movie sets.

Doré's London scenes like this one are still a perfect source of inspiration for Dickens' Oliver Twist.

The list of films is endless.

I was surprised how crowded the exhibit was. The he bookshop was jammed with buyers. I picked up this big book of political portrait drawings of L'Assemblée Nationale 1871.

Doré’s fluid, economical gestural lines are a marvel. An excellent tracing project if you have a pad of paper around. For some unknown reason you can't find good, thin (and cheap) tracing paper in Paris or London.

The Musée D'Orsay is a grand space to visit even if you're not into line engravings, drawings or Doré.

Many big clocks around Paris...not just at Les Editeurs.

The views outside are enthralling even on a grey drizzly day.

When you leave the museum you take Doré with you outside.

The surrounding buildings reflect back the detail and swirls of the artist's lines.

So do Paris gateaux - full of swirls and lyrical swoops. Gosselin up on the corner of rue de Bellechasse will provide you with edible Doré-creations. There's always a cake or two on Parisbreakfast. Bon Weekend PBers!