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Allan MacEachen, Henri Fantin-Latour, Lester B. Pearson, Mendelssohn, Mitt Romney, October Crisis, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Republican
Cerises (Cherries), by Henri Fantin-Latour (1877)
Henri Fantin-Latour (14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was born in Grenoble (Isère). He studied at l’École de Dessin (from 1850) under Lecoq de Boisbaudran and at l’École des Beaux-Arts, in Paris, beginning in 1854. As did many students registered at l’École des Beaux-Arts, he copied the masters in the Louvre.
Fantin-Latour befriended many artists, some of whom became prominent Impressionists or transitional figures, such as Édouard Manet. For his part, Fantin-Latour chose to paint in a more conservative and crisper manner and worked with Gustave Courbet. But Fantin-Latour also met American-born British artist James MacNeill Whistler who very much admired Fantin-Latour still-lifes and introduced Fantin-Latour to a British public. Fantin-Latour was so successful in Britain that he became better known in England than in France.
Fantin-Latour married Victoria Dubourg, an artist, and spent his summers at her family’s country estate near Orne, Normandy. So, by and large, he lived a very stable life which is reflected in his art. He never reached stardom, but his art has endured and will no doubt continue to endure.
In 1875, aged 68, Fantin-Latour died of lyme disease, a tick-borne disease that was almost impossible to treat before antibiotics became available.
Yesterday’s Blog: Tough Leadership
Yesterday’s blog depicted what I would call “tough leadership.” The October Crisis of 1970 was a major event in Canadian history. Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau implemented the War Measures Act which had never been done in peacetime. His “Just watch me” has remained as famous as his “There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation,” a statement he made at the time the Omnibus Bill (Bill C-150) or the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69, designed when Pierre Trudeau was Minister of Justice and the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972), Canada’s Prime Minister and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his role in defusing the Suez Crisis.
The Sixties in Canada
The sixties, the late sixties in particular, were pivotal years in Canada. First, under the leadership of Lester B. Pearson, Allan J. MacEachen designed Canada’s Social Programs: universal health care, the Canada Pension Plan, the Canada Student Loans, etc. (also see Social Programs in Canada)
Second, the Omnibus Bill (C-150), or the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69, was passed. “It proposed, among other things, to decriminalize homosexuality, allow abortion and contraception, and regulate lotteries, gun possession, drinking and driving offences, harassing phone calls, misleading advertising and cruelty to animals.” (Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69, Wikipedia)
Third, Prime Minister Pearson convened the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism which led to the Official Languages Act (September 9, 1969), since amended but nevertheless in force.
Forthcoming Articles
- More on the Noble Savage
- A short article on Still-Life painting
- An article on Refus global (Canadiana)
- A rough translation of Chant d’un Patriote (click to see the French lyrics)
© Micheline Walker
October 30, 2012
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Micheline's Blog 
Micheline, my dear, as always amazed by your post! I watched with great pleasure the video and I liked very much. Thank you so much for your great post!
Off topic: I was inrijorata when I learned that Hurricane Sandy affects U.S.. I’m so sorry!
I hope with all my heart to be well with you, my dear Micheline!
Be blessed with much happiness! Big hugs always with love, Stefania! 🙂
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Dear Stefania,
There are hurricanes in the eastern part of the United States. People lose everything. Mitt Romney said it would be “immoral” to provide financial help for the victims. But compassion would be the more normal feeling.
All is well with me and I hope that you are also happy.
Thank you for your comments.
Big hugs and love,
Micheline
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Beautiful music and paintings. I will begin to explore Fantin-Latour’s works. Thanks.
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Thank you Tom, There’s a bit of coincidence. Yesterday, I thought of you. I was wondering how you were. Thank you for you kind comments, Micheline
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Hello Micheline,
thank you for your words about ‘mon cher Fantin’. For me he is the best painter in the world. My fascination began 3 years ago in Paris (Musée d’Orsay) – I saw first time his ‘Hommage à Delacroix’… J’adore his self-portraits, flower paintings and group portraits.
Greetings from Poland
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For me, he is also “mon cher Fantin.” I love all of his art. One does tire of his art. I’m glad he chose to be a conservative artist. One can sense that he was happy to paint as he had been trained to paint. He was so successful that obviously others felt as you and I do. Meilleurs salutations, Micheline
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Very interesting information. I thank you for writing. Best regards, Micheline
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No, Netanyahu didn’t plan or buy the campaign ad. Secure America Now, a group run by longtime Republican strategists, put it up. But Florida is filled with Israeli emigres and American Jews. There’s no question that Netanyahu knows all about the ad and has made no effort to criticize or blunt it. An anonymous Israeli official did tell the news media that the prime minister’s office had nothing to do with the ad and did not approve of it. That’s all.
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You’re right. Secure America Now paid for the add.
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