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| Answers: 1. Willy Ronis died on September 12, 2009 at the age of 99. 2. The couple are standing on the Colonne de Juillet (July Column) in the Place de la Bastille which is located in Paris, France. The column is topped by the statue Genie de la Liberte (Spirit of Freedom, out of view of the camera). 3. The distance between the July Column and the Eiffel Tower in the background is 7.3 km by car, 6.3 km by foot, 5.5 km as the crow flies. |
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| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| Quiz #227 Results |
| How Mike and Mary Solved the Puzzle |
| Ok, this one took me a little longer. The photo "looked" French to me, even before I read the questions and realized the Eiffel Tower was in the background. But it wasn't a photo I recognized, so TinEye was my first stop. The search results were helpful, but only after I used the babel translator (Sorry, no French spoken here!) I quickly discovered that the photographer, Willy Ronis, died on Sept. 12, 2009, which would be the answer for question #1. The next question was about the statue over the couple's head. Since it is not pictured, you have to either a. find a source about the photo that mentions where the couple are, or b. use Google Earth or some other tool to try to line up the Eiffel Tower and the buildings in between and then check on any towers or tall buildings along that line. Since I'm lazy, I went with a! I found just the thing online, and discovered the couple are standing on the July Column in Bastille place. The balcony railing can be seen in the high resolution photo found here: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonne_de_Juillet The statue on the top of the column is called Spirit of Freedom. Once I had those, the distance was easy. Depending on whether you want to drive it (7.2km) or go "as the crow flies" (5.50km) you can find the coordinates online and get the distance. Fun puzzle! Mike Vanlandingham ***** That was fun...I love anything to do with Paris. I started with a Google search on "French photographer". That lead to www.hackelbury.co.uk/artists/ronis/ronis_pic08.html, which gave me the place of the photo "Les Amoureux de la Colonne Bastille". Then it was a matter of looking up the Bastille. Then I Google Earthed the directions from Colonne de Juillet to la Tour Eiffel. Mary South |
| Willy Ronis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Ronis |
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Despite stiff competition from Robert
Doisneau and others, the Oxford
Companion to the Photograph terms Ronis
"the photographer of Paris par excellence".
Ronis continued to live and work in Paris,
although he stopped photography in 2001,
since he required a cane to walk and could
not move around with his camera. He also
worked on books for the Taschen
publishing company. Ronis died at age 99,
on September 12, 2009.
| Willy Ronis August 14, 1910 – September 12, 2009 |
(AP) – Sep 12, 2009
PARIS — Willy Ronis, the last of the great French photographers best known for
shots of the quirky corners of Paris, has died at age 99.
The president of the Eyedea photo agency, Stephane Ledoux, says Ronis died early
Saturday in a Paris hospital after being on dialysis for some time.
Despite his failing health, Ronis traveled to the Arles photo festival in July to receive a
special honor.
Lovers, nudes and scenes from Paris streets were the mainstay of Ronis' photographs
in an award-winning career that began in the 1930s.
/www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j2GwLP4tW1aqoaOBWiU37MJQDzQgD9ALQFQ81
PARIS — Willy Ronis, the last of the great French photographers best known for
shots of the quirky corners of Paris, has died at age 99.
The president of the Eyedea photo agency, Stephane Ledoux, says Ronis died early
Saturday in a Paris hospital after being on dialysis for some time.
Despite his failing health, Ronis traveled to the Arles photo festival in July to receive a
special honor.
Lovers, nudes and scenes from Paris streets were the mainstay of Ronis' photographs
in an award-winning career that began in the 1930s.
/www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j2GwLP4tW1aqoaOBWiU37MJQDzQgD9ALQFQ81
he was awarded the Grand Prix des Arts et Lettres for Photography by the Minister for
Culture. Ronis won the Prix Nadar in 1981 for his photobook, Sur le fil du hasard.
Ronis' wife, the Communist militant painter Marie-Anne Lansiaux (1910–91), was the
subject of his well-known 1936 photograph, Nu provençal (Provençal nude). The
photograph, taken in a house that he and Anne Marie had just bought in Gordes,
showed Marie-Anne washing at a basin with a water pitcher on the floor and an open
window through which the viewer can see a garden, this is noted for its ability to
convey an easy feeling of Provençal life. The photograph was a "huge success"; Ronis
would comment, "The destiny of this image, published constantly around the world,
still astonishes me."
Ronis lived in Provence from the 1960s to the 1980s. Late in her life, Ronis
photographed Marie-Anne suffering from Alzheimer's disease, sitting alone in a park
surrounded by autumn trees. Ronis' nudes and fashion work (for Vogue and Le Jardin
des modes) show his appreciation for natural beauty; meanwhile, he remained a
principled news photographer, resigning from Rapho for a twenty-five year period
when he objected to the hostile captioning by the New York Times to his photograph of
a strike.
Culture. Ronis won the Prix Nadar in 1981 for his photobook, Sur le fil du hasard.
Ronis' wife, the Communist militant painter Marie-Anne Lansiaux (1910–91), was the
subject of his well-known 1936 photograph, Nu provençal (Provençal nude). The
photograph, taken in a house that he and Anne Marie had just bought in Gordes,
showed Marie-Anne washing at a basin with a water pitcher on the floor and an open
window through which the viewer can see a garden, this is noted for its ability to
convey an easy feeling of Provençal life. The photograph was a "huge success"; Ronis
would comment, "The destiny of this image, published constantly around the world,
still astonishes me."
Ronis lived in Provence from the 1960s to the 1980s. Late in her life, Ronis
photographed Marie-Anne suffering from Alzheimer's disease, sitting alone in a park
surrounded by autumn trees. Ronis' nudes and fashion work (for Vogue and Le Jardin
des modes) show his appreciation for natural beauty; meanwhile, he remained a
principled news photographer, resigning from Rapho for a twenty-five year period
when he objected to the hostile captioning by the New York Times to his photograph of
a strike.
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Oct. 5, 2005. French
photographer Willy Ronis
holds a Rolleiflex camera
at his apartment in Paris.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap...
photographer Willy Ronis
holds a Rolleiflex camera
at his apartment in Paris.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap...
| Willy Ronis Mini-Gallery www.hackelbury.co.uk/artists/ronis/ronis_sm.html |
Ronis was born in Paris; his father was a Jewish refugee
from Odessa, and his mother was a refugee from
Lithuania, both escaped from the pogroms. His father
opened a photography studio in Montmartre, and his
mother gave piano lessons. The boy's early interest was
music and he hoped to become a composer. Returning
from compulsory military service in 1932, his violin
studies were put on hold because his father's cancer
required Ronis to take over the family portrait business;
Ronis' passion for music has been observed in his
photographs. His father died in 1936, whereupon the
business collapsed and Ronis went freelance, his first
photographs being published in Regards. In 1937 he met
David Szymin and Robert Capa, and did his first work
for Plaisir de France; in 1938–39 he reported on a strike
at Citroën and traveled in the Balkans. With
Cartier-Bresson, Ronis belonged to Association des
Écrivains et Artistes Révolutionnaires, and remained a
man of the left.
The work of photographers, Alfred Stieglitz and Ansel
Adams inspired Ronis to begin exploring photography.
After his father's death, in 1936, Ronis closed the studio
and joined the photo agency Rapho, with Brassaï, Robert
Doisneau and Ergy Landau. Ronis became the first
French photographer to work for Life. In 1953, Edward
Steichen included Ronis, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert
Doisneau, Izis, and Brassaï in an exhibition at the
Museum of Modern Art titled Five French
Photographers. In 1955, Ronis was included in the
Family of Man exhibition. The Venice Biennale awarded
him its Gold Medal in 1957. Ronis began teaching in the
1950s, and taught at the School of Fine Arts in Avignon,
Aix-en-Provence and Saint Charles, Marseilles. In 1979
from Odessa, and his mother was a refugee from
Lithuania, both escaped from the pogroms. His father
opened a photography studio in Montmartre, and his
mother gave piano lessons. The boy's early interest was
music and he hoped to become a composer. Returning
from compulsory military service in 1932, his violin
studies were put on hold because his father's cancer
required Ronis to take over the family portrait business;
Ronis' passion for music has been observed in his
photographs. His father died in 1936, whereupon the
business collapsed and Ronis went freelance, his first
photographs being published in Regards. In 1937 he met
David Szymin and Robert Capa, and did his first work
for Plaisir de France; in 1938–39 he reported on a strike
at Citroën and traveled in the Balkans. With
Cartier-Bresson, Ronis belonged to Association des
Écrivains et Artistes Révolutionnaires, and remained a
man of the left.
The work of photographers, Alfred Stieglitz and Ansel
Adams inspired Ronis to begin exploring photography.
After his father's death, in 1936, Ronis closed the studio
and joined the photo agency Rapho, with Brassaï, Robert
Doisneau and Ergy Landau. Ronis became the first
French photographer to work for Life. In 1953, Edward
Steichen included Ronis, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert
Doisneau, Izis, and Brassaï in an exhibition at the
Museum of Modern Art titled Five French
Photographers. In 1955, Ronis was included in the
Family of Man exhibition. The Venice Biennale awarded
him its Gold Medal in 1957. Ronis began teaching in the
1950s, and taught at the School of Fine Arts in Avignon,
Aix-en-Provence and Saint Charles, Marseilles. In 1979
| WILLY RONIS Le Nu Provencal, 1949 Silver Gelatin print, signed on recto in ink. 11"x14" |
| Top French photographer Willy Ronis dead at 99 |
| WILLY RONIS Vincent sleeping, 1946 Silver gelatin print, signed on recto in ink. 11" x 14" |
Our quizzes are showcases for the great photographers. I was not familiar with Mr.
Ronis work but I enjoyed looking through it. Carolyn Cornelius
*****
Took me a bit to figure out about the "statue over the couples head". Kept looking at the
picture thinking "What statue?" Didn't know if I was going crazy or blind. But with a
little research figured that the statue wasn't exactly in the picture...more like behind
(and above) the photograph. Carl Blessing
*****
Thank you for another trip down my Paris memory lane. Judy Pfaff
*****
mademoseille Colleine: de photgraphie of Parienee, Francine amours acquiree Willy
Ronis circe anno domini 1957. de Willy Ronis expiate 12 Septembe 2009 per New York
Times obituate morte. The said Julienne Columne si 47 metere altitudo tope via statuee
de Genius a Liberte, creato totalo 52 meter in height de Julieene Columne is 3.57 miles
on a compass reading from de Eiffele Tower in de distance - distance between gps
coordinates. Distance by foot, car or public transit may vary. magnifique responde--
Miguel DeDalitun
N. B. Pourquoi ecrivez-vous italien et pas francais?
*****
I was confused by your question asking about the statue over the couple’s head. What
statue? I thought perhaps my computer was cropping the photo somehow. Good
diversion. p.s. You are ahead of your time... The satellite photo of Black Rock was in
National Geographic this past month! Evan Hindman
*****
Heather and Mr Rick want to thank Mr Stan for helping us use up 3 class periods
researching this quiz. It is a good thing Mr Rick is already bald, cause their would be a
lot of hair pulling on this one. Mr. Rick and his Quiz Angel Heather
Ronis work but I enjoyed looking through it. Carolyn Cornelius
*****
Took me a bit to figure out about the "statue over the couples head". Kept looking at the
picture thinking "What statue?" Didn't know if I was going crazy or blind. But with a
little research figured that the statue wasn't exactly in the picture...more like behind
(and above) the photograph. Carl Blessing
*****
Thank you for another trip down my Paris memory lane. Judy Pfaff
*****
mademoseille Colleine: de photgraphie of Parienee, Francine amours acquiree Willy
Ronis circe anno domini 1957. de Willy Ronis expiate 12 Septembe 2009 per New York
Times obituate morte. The said Julienne Columne si 47 metere altitudo tope via statuee
de Genius a Liberte, creato totalo 52 meter in height de Julieene Columne is 3.57 miles
on a compass reading from de Eiffele Tower in de distance - distance between gps
coordinates. Distance by foot, car or public transit may vary. magnifique responde--
Miguel DeDalitun
N. B. Pourquoi ecrivez-vous italien et pas francais?
*****
I was confused by your question asking about the statue over the couple’s head. What
statue? I thought perhaps my computer was cropping the photo somehow. Good
diversion. p.s. You are ahead of your time... The satellite photo of Black Rock was in
National Geographic this past month! Evan Hindman
*****
Heather and Mr Rick want to thank Mr Stan for helping us use up 3 class periods
researching this quiz. It is a good thing Mr Rick is already bald, cause their would be a
lot of hair pulling on this one. Mr. Rick and his Quiz Angel Heather
| TinEye to the Rescue Again! |
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| Answers to Quiz #227 October 4, 2009 |
| Comments from Our Readers |
| WILLY RONIS Le Vigneron Giroudin, 1945 Silver gelatin print, signed on recto in ink. 11" x 14" |
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| WILLY RONIS To school, 1959 Silver gelatin print, signed on recto in ink. 11" x 14" |
| 1. Why was the photographer who took this picture in the news recently? 2. What is the name of the statue that is over the couple's head? Bonus: How far is it from the place the couple is standing to the tower in the far distance in the center of the photograph? |
| Thanks to long time Quizmaster Stan Read for suggesting this quiz. |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Bravo for Mr. Rick and his Quiz Angel Heather! Diane Burkett Carolyn Cornelius Carl Blessing Daniel E. Jolley Judy Pfaff Miguel DeDalitun David Doucette Christine Bates Marilyn Hamill Milene Rawlinson John Sims Betty Chambers Brian Kemp Evan Hindman Karen Kay Bunting Mike Vanlandingham Mary South Peter Norton Lindsay Mackenzie Gary Sterne Anne Alves Teresa Yu Jocelyn Thayer Robert W. Steinmann Jr. |
| 1. Download stans_pic.jpg from the quiz website by right clicking on the image. 2. Go to www.tineye.com, click on browse, and select stans_pic from Windows Explorer 3. TinEye will come up with at least 32 matches (and the links to the associated websites) that identify the quiz photo. |
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| For more beautiful photographs by Willy Ronis, see www.hackelbury.co.uk/artists/ronis/ronis_sm.html/ |
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| Compare railing in picture to the railing around the top of the Colonne de Juillet. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1521367708041169831iQEDXa |
| The Eiffel Tower in the background compared to the real thing. |
| The Statue over the Couple's Head |
Some of our readers were confused about Question #2 that asked for the name of the
statue over the couple's head, as no such statue appears in the photograph. The statue
is out of field of view of the camera.
Whether you used TinEye to identify the photo (as Mike Vanlandingham did) or you
surfed on French photographers (as Mary South did) or some other method of
identifying the picture, hopefully you'd arrive at the location as the Place de la Bastille,
Paris. The couple is shown at the top of La Colonne de Juillet (the July Column)
commemorating the Trois Glorieuses, the "three glorious" days in July 1830 that saw
the fall of Charles X of France and the commencement of the "July Monarchy" of
Louis-Philippe.
If you had any doubts, you could compare the railing shown in the picture to that
surrounding Dumont's Génie de la Libertéthe, the statue at the top of the column.
statue over the couple's head, as no such statue appears in the photograph. The statue
is out of field of view of the camera.
Whether you used TinEye to identify the photo (as Mike Vanlandingham did) or you
surfed on French photographers (as Mary South did) or some other method of
identifying the picture, hopefully you'd arrive at the location as the Place de la Bastille,
Paris. The couple is shown at the top of La Colonne de Juillet (the July Column)
commemorating the Trois Glorieuses, the "three glorious" days in July 1830 that saw
the fall of Charles X of France and the commencement of the "July Monarchy" of
Louis-Philippe.
If you had any doubts, you could compare the railing shown in the picture to that
surrounding Dumont's Génie de la Libertéthe, the statue at the top of the column.
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| WILLY RONIS Rue Rambuteau, 1946 Silver gelatin print, signed on recto in ink. www.hackelbury.co.uk/artists/ronis... |
The Colonne de Juillet is composed of twenty-one cast bronze drums, weighing over
163,000 pounds; it is 154 feet (47 m) high, containing an interior spiral staircase, and
rests on a base of white marble ornamented with bronze bas-reliefs, of which the lion,
by Antoine-Louis Barye is the most noted. The French cockerels at the corners are also
by Barye.The column is engraved in gold with the names of Parisians who died during
the revolution.[2] Over the Corinthian capital is a gallery 16 feet (4.9 m) wide,
surmounted with a gilded globe, on which stands a colossal gilded figure, Auguste
Dumont's Génie de la Liberté (the "Spirit of Freedom"). Perched on one foot in the
manner of Giambologna's Mercury, the star-crowned nude brandishes the torch of
civilisation and the remains of his broken chains. Formerly the figure also appeared on
163,000 pounds; it is 154 feet (47 m) high, containing an interior spiral staircase, and
rests on a base of white marble ornamented with bronze bas-reliefs, of which the lion,
by Antoine-Louis Barye is the most noted. The French cockerels at the corners are also
by Barye.The column is engraved in gold with the names of Parisians who died during
the revolution.[2] Over the Corinthian capital is a gallery 16 feet (4.9 m) wide,
surmounted with a gilded globe, on which stands a colossal gilded figure, Auguste
Dumont's Génie de la Liberté (the "Spirit of Freedom"). Perched on one foot in the
manner of Giambologna's Mercury, the star-crowned nude brandishes the torch of
civilisation and the remains of his broken chains. Formerly the figure also appeared on
| Route by car between the Place de la Bastille and the Eiffel Tower |
French ten-franc coins.
The monument, in an elaboration of a Corinthian column, was
designed by the architect Jean-Antoine Alavoine, following a
commission from Louis-Philippe: the Place de la Bastille was
officially selected as the site, 9 March 1831, and the Citizen-King
placed a first stone on 28 July 1831, the anniversary of the
revolution that brought him to power; a hymn with words by
Victor Hugo and music by Ferdinand Hérold was sung at the
Panthéon on the occasion. It was constructed by Alavoine's
partner in the project, Louis Duc. The Colonne de Juillet was
inaugurated 28 July 1840. Music composed for the occasion was
Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale, which was
performed in the open air under the direction of Berlioz himself,
leading the procession of musicians which ended at the Place de la
Bastille. Jean-Pierre Montagny issued commemorative medals on
the occasion. Coordinates: 48°51′11″N 2°22′09″E.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Column
The monument, in an elaboration of a Corinthian column, was
designed by the architect Jean-Antoine Alavoine, following a
commission from Louis-Philippe: the Place de la Bastille was
officially selected as the site, 9 March 1831, and the Citizen-King
placed a first stone on 28 July 1831, the anniversary of the
revolution that brought him to power; a hymn with words by
Victor Hugo and music by Ferdinand Hérold was sung at the
Panthéon on the occasion. It was constructed by Alavoine's
partner in the project, Louis Duc. The Colonne de Juillet was
inaugurated 28 July 1840. Music composed for the occasion was
Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale, which was
performed in the open air under the direction of Berlioz himself,
leading the procession of musicians which ended at the Place de la
Bastille. Jean-Pierre Montagny issued commemorative medals on
the occasion. Coordinates: 48°51′11″N 2°22′09″E.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Column
| July Column Place de la Bastille Paris, France |
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| Distance between the Colonne de Juillet and the Tower in the Background |
In case you didn't recognize it, the tower in the background is the Eiffel Tower. If you
really did not recognize it, a little research on famous towers in Paris would have done
the trick.
really did not recognize it, a little research on famous towers in Paris would have done
the trick.
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| Route by foot between the Place de la Bastille and the Eiffel Tower |
| Eiffel Tower Rue du Champ de Mars 75007 Paris, France |