Paris Medusa

This pencil drawing is for a client in New York City. She and her mother went to Paris this summer and took a picture of this famous door. This Medusa/Gorgon is one of two on the double doors. The term Gorgon refers to any of three sisters who had hair made of living, venomous snakes, as well as a horrifying face that turned those who looked at her to stone.

These doors are on the Hotel Amelot de Bisseuil, a grand free-standing townhouse, on the Rue Vieille du Temple in the Marais District, built in 1660. The most famous inhabitant was Pierre-Augustin Caron Beaumarchais who lived there from 1776 to 1787. There he wrote "The Marriage of Figaro," and more surprising, founded a royally supported business that secretly furnished weapons and supplies to help American rebels fight the American Revolution.

I love getting to know the history of the things that I draw! Fascinating tidbit of American history.