Le Musée Jacquemart-André...

My desk in Paris, from where I'm writing now...

Paris was waiting for me with its best colors: those of Fall. No other season looks best on it than Fall and its many colors. The Parc Monceau is full of gold as the leaves on trees have shifted into yellow, orange and copper... wonderful.

And to make myself at home, I payed a visit to the Musée Jacquemart-André, which features an exhibit of masterpieces by Rubens and Poussin, great artists of the 17th century. One, a prolific flemish painter, the other, an exponent of the French classical style. Both are showcased here next to other fellow artists, also great examples of the Flemish period, such as Eustache Le Sueur, Laurent de la Hyre o les Frères Le Nain. Of course, you'll be genuinely impressed (at least I was) in front of "Le Bain de Diane," by Pierre Paul Rubens, of whom it was said that his use of color was more beautiful than that of Nature herself. And you'll feel the same with the works of Nicolas Poussin, specially with the magnificent "Mercure, Hersé et Aglaure," which he painted in 1624.

It's totally worth it to visit this exhibit, and also the entire Museum, which has a History of its own too, for it used to be the private residence of a legendary Parisian couple, Edouard André and Nelie Jacquemart. Both important art collectors, they made of their "hotel particulière" one of the most elegant spots in Paris, rich in masterpieces. As they died with no heir at the begining of the 20th century, they donated their house and collection to the Institut de France, which opened it to public visitors in 1913.

Le bain de Diane, by Pierre Paul Rubens.