How did a lifelong cleaning lady become one of the most beloved painters in French history? In 1905, the voice of the Virgin Mary told orphaned, uneducated maid Seraphine to paint, and she obeyed. Her small French town was on the front line of both world wars, and through it all she painted her kaleidoscopic view. She died penniless and unknown, but when a film about her aired on French television a couple years ago, everything changed. Travel with Katie to Senlis for a vivid soundscape of turn-of-the-century France and meet “France’s Mona Lisa.”
Katie’s guest is Alicia Basso Boccabella at the Museums of Senlis.
You can take a stunning virtual tour of the cathedral and museum here!
View some of Seraphine’s paintings below. And don’t miss this beautiful animated art short, The Hands of Seraphine for an immersive experience standing in the gallery!
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbérany
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
image courtesy of the Museums of Senlis
image courtesy of the Museums of Senlis
photo by Katie Nelson
photo by Marc Nelson
photo by Katie Nelson
photo by Marc Nelson
Katie’s guest is Alicia Basso Boccabella at the Museums of Senlis.
Music featured in this episode included:
“Mon Amant de Saint-Jean” by Thierry Callen – free download for personal use
“Accordion” by Andrew Huang
“Hidden Agenda, Industrial Music Box, Hero Down, Heart of Nowhere, Ignosi, Dreamy Flashback, Grave Matters, and Heavy Interlude” by Kevin MacLeod