"Neptune's Bathroom" By Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins

 Neptune's Bathroom 12 x 12 by Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins Available 

My latest painting "Neptune's Bathroom" 12 x 12 is inspired by Christian Dior’s beautiful Neoclassical inspired Bathroom from his Château de la Colle Noire. The French designer bought the 123-acre Château in the South of France in 1951 and loving began renovating the 29-room Château and landscape the grounds where he mentioned he hoped to retire someday in his 1956 autobiography Dior on Dior.

“I think of this house now as my real home, the home to which, God willing, I shall one day retire, the home where perhaps I will one day forget Christian Dior, Couturier, and become the neglected private individual again.”

Christian Dior unfortunately passed away in 1957 and never realized his retirement dream. The Château was bought and sold many times over the years and the contents auctioned off. In 2013, Christian Dior Parfums bought the home and spent the last three years renovating it and buying back original furnishings.

Christian Dior's Bathroom MONTAUROUX, VAR, FRANCE  : La Colle Noire castle once owned by fashion designer Christian Dior now fully restored following a two and half year restoration project initiated by Bernard Arnault of Christian Dior Parfums . 

  Christian Dior design his bathroom himself after studying French period Barthrooms from the    Directoire, Consulate, and Empire periods. Thank goodness the original fixtures remain in the castle.  

Christian Dior's Bathroom today @ Château de la Colle Noire:

A wonderful shell encrusted bust of Neptune I used in my painting 

Nice English Neoclassical design I used on the marble bathtub 

The nude 

Neptune's Bathroom 12 x 12 by Creole Folk Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins Available 

https://squareup.com/store/andrew-hopkins

How would beignets & café au lait be served 200 years ago?

I don't have a lot of time on my hands but when I do I like to treat myself in first half of the 19th century hospitality style. Having discovered the secret ingredient left out of the Café du Monde beignet mix {salt & suger} I have been making beignets almost every day. One day I thought If I were living 200 years ago how would this New Orleans Creole treat be served. As I love to stage I look thru my collection of decorative arts and found all of the components to set up a early 19th century feast. Late 18th century English serving dish marked by Royal Crown Derby with gold gilt lion face mask and handpainted cornflowers one of French Queen Marie Antoinette's favorite flower. Because of her, porcelain painted with cornflowers became popular during the last quarter of the 18th century. The plate also painted with cornflowers and gold gilt stars is attributed to the English Royal Crown Derby factory but is unmarked, dates from the late 18th century early 19th century. The Rare Empire Paris porcelain café au lait Cup and saucer painted with a exotic tropical bird dates from the early 19th century as well as the American Philadelphia made coin silver spoon next to the cup. This was a treat to experience food as it would have been served 200 years ago!