Never mind that King Francois I of France pre-dated Bastille Day by more than 200 years. The sophisticated and extravagant School of Fontainebleau style that developed under his royal command is something to celebrate and see during the month of France’s La Fête Nationale.
Francois’ 16th-century prints, le quatorze juillet, on view through Sunday, are part of a French summer at Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center. In all, there are six exhibitions showcasing French works from private collections and the Cantor’s permanent collection on view throughout the summer. Seven if you count the perennial display of 200 works by Rodin in three galleries and the outdoor sculpture garden.
While French art is not new to the Cantor, it is unusual to display so many works from a single country.
“Though the Cantor is rightfully known for our Rodin bronzes, we also have exceptional holdings in French works on paper from the 16th to 19th centuries,” explains Connie Wolf, the director of the Cantor. “Our exciting collaborations with the Blanton Museum of Art [Storied Past] and Stanford’s Special Collections [Matisse Jazz] presented the ideal opportunity to showcase this aspect of our collection in full historical context.
“As these light-sensitive works can be on view for only months at time, we elected to exhibit them concurrently, so our visitors can experience the breadth and depth of what the Cantor has to offer,” she said.
Several Cantor staff members agreed to share their favorites from the six exhibitions:
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Cantor Arts Center's French Summer,
