Vanités

Philippe Pasqua

It was a cold Monday in Paris. Camille pulled away in her taxi on the rue de Saint Simon and I did my best to hold onto my heart--it so wanted to follow. I wrapped myself tightly in my 1950's vintage Dior fur coat and walked mechanically toward the Musee Maillol on the rue de Grenelle. I didn't dare return to my room just then....it would have been the kiss of death! Interesting then, that I would gravitate toward an exhibit that was all about death...Vanités. Honestly, I didn't think about that at the time...I just knew that there were to be jewels by the famous Venetian jeweler, Codognato and that in itself was great motivation. I am a big fan of Codognato who happens to use skulls in most of his designs.

My eyes full of tears, I entered the museum and was faced with death. I had to search my soul at first to find the beauty in it all...the meaning of it all. "Vanity" comes from the words of Ecclesiastes: "vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Vanity is a reflection on life, moralizing, which should lead to redemption according to Loic Malle, a historian who helped design the exhibition. Personally, I was reflecting on the fact that if I didn't find the jewels soon, I was going to tumble into the corridors of depression!
Cindy Sherman

I must admit that the jewels showered over and inside this skull were beautiful. I wanted to reach in and touch the emeralds in the eyes...
Luigi Miradori

There was beauty in this Cupid with wings resting comfortably on the "book of wisdom" as if it were a cushion. I learned that the tulips and the narcissus are flowers that symbolize the destruction of everything. I chose to interpret it as love until death.

Domenico Fetti

This is entitled, "Melancholy"...
Store windows all over Paris were playing on the theme. I learned that the skull is the symbol for the body, and the butterflies, for the soul.
Finally, after climbing many stairs to reach the top floor of the museum, I found the Codognato jewels. I wasn't allowed to photograph any of them, but managed to discreetly "snap" these two. This exhibit made me search my soul for understanding death alongside life. Although it may have been too much for many, for me I was overwhelmed with gratitude from all that I saw. Most importantly, it was a big reminder to live, to love and to keep moving forward. My eyes filled again with tears as I saw Camille's departure differently now--a necessity in the theme of moving forward. I came to see the jewels, and I found them in knowledge and understanding.