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text
by linda, webmaster
Before
we got up to walk to
„Maxim’s“ Claudine smiled
at us and said she would bring us next time yet
another photo of „Catherine“ a very big one –
something which has not yet been seen…or as we
discussed between us later on…THE painting by
« Jan van Eyck »? I am sure, Claudine is laughing
when she reads my words here! We shall be more
than happy, by whatever she will bring to us!
This is what I had written on May
this year, when I returned home from Paris after our meeting with
Claudine Ancelot at Maxim's. Four months later Frédérique and I were
invited by our dear friend Claudine to come and pick up "our
photo" at her place. There it stood, on the floor, a large
parcel still unwrapped! Claudine told us it was her gift to us,
smiling her unforgettable beautiful smile and telling us: " the
photo is both yours, you do what you think is best"!
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With friendly anticipation we opened a part of the parcel and we were able
to have a first glimpse at "La Belle Catherine"! All of us who
have seen the TV-Series Catherine, One Love is Enough" or read
the book series by Juliette Benzoni, so wonderfully turned into
a
TV-Series by Marion Sarraut,
do know which scene that was and
what followed afterwards!
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On a Christmas morning at Montsalvy in the beautiful country of
the Auvergne, a messenger came from Burgundy. He stood in the
snowy courtyard and carried with him a carefully wrapped picture, sent to
the Comtesse Catherine de Montsalvy by her old faithful
friend
Jean Van Eyck.
My dear friends of Catherine/Claudine. This is not the picture
Jean Van Eyck sent to Montsalvy. However, just as Van
Eyck's painting once travelled to Montsalvy - it has has travelled many
kilometres, coming from France to cross the border and arrive
intead in
Switzerland. Not by horse or protected by the soldiers of the
Duke of Burgundy, but by your webmistress as if she carried with
her the crown jewels
of the Queen of England! I can tell you it
was a spectacular adventure to travel by train, with a
suitcase already heavily laden as usual, (Frédérique can confirm
that ☺) and a picture in a golden frame by the size of 57 x 54
cm! I
got many pitiful looks from women and some sardonic looks of
men...! But...when has ever stopped something the
webmistress of the
Catherine de Montsalvy website? Especially if it concerns
"Catherine"?
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In mutual agreement we decided that
"Catherine" will stay awhile in the land of the
Confédération Suisse!
After all the
Mona Lisa
traveled also once to
New York (because
of Jacky Kennedy, if I remember correctly)
In the meantime I am enjoying this precious gift, given to us by
the beautiful
Claudine our dearest and noble friend. It is in my
"tower room" as I call the place where I work for my websites.
At times I look at it and I just cannot believe the road it has
taken me since the day I had the inspiration to create a website
called:
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Frédérique's creation for the Advent calendar of
2011 |
I send again to Claudine my gratitude
and thank her so much for trusting to us
something so exquisit! Thank you dear
Claudine, you are so
adorable.
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- 2024 Linda Compagnoni Walther
Non profit site
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