Diary of a Young Artist in Paris, Part 2

The photographs, drawings, and narrative come from a sketch diary belonging to artist Russell Vapors, which covers his trip to Paris in July 1992, at the age of 24. View Part 1, if you haven't seen it yet.

Diary of a Young Artist in Paris, photo of Hotel Des Invalides

7/14/92: After getting settled into my room at Hotel de la Paix, I was very excited to hit the streets and start exploring Paris! One of my first stops was the Hotel des Invalides (pictured above), which is like an "army museum" relating to the military history of France.

Artsology Editor's Note: there's not much narration by Russell Vapors in this part of the sketch diary, so we will mention his hand-written notes that surround the drawings made at the Hotel des Invalides, as seen below. Below left, clockwise from left: "Premier Age du Fer" battle helmet; a helmet from the 16th Century; Japanese helmet from the Asiatic Wing.

(captions from additional drawings made at the Hotel des Invalides, below right: "upstairs in the Army Museum they had more recent war memorabilia, including a 1942 edition of 'Mein Kampf;' Napoleon's Tomb was spectacular; a WWII gas mask; and a note stating "Ingres's portrait of Napoleon from 1806 seen at the Army Museum).

drawings of armor at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris

Drawings by Russell Vapors made at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris.

more drawings from the Hotel des Invalides in Paris

Drawings made at the Hotel des Invalides from the sketch diary of artist Russell Vapors.

Artsology Editor's Note: we will include a few photographs taken by Russell Vapors that correspond to the time period of his drawings made above. Below left, a view of Napoleon's Tomb at the Hotel des Invalides; below right, a stained glass window in this same area where Napoleon's Tomb was located; final photograph at the bottom shows more 16th Century (?) armor from the Hotel des Invalides.

the Tomb of Napoleon in Paris at the Hotel des Invalides

Photograph of the Tomb of Napoleon at the Hotel des Invalides

stained glass window near the Tomb of Napoleon at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris

Stained glass window near the Tomb of Napoleon at the Hotel des Invalides

armor at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris

16th Century (?) armor at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris

Continue on to Part 3.

Go back to read Part 1 of "Diary of a Young Artist in Paris."