On our way to spend a quiet afternoon on the Champs du Mars sketching and picnicking, my husband and I took a new down rue Monttessuy. My attention was captured by some great architectural drawings beautifully displayed in a shop window just in site of the Eiffel Tower. I pushed open the door and entered the world of Michel Fresnay and his père go who are both passionately fond of graphic representation of architecture in its decorative form.

My “architect glands” were salivating seeing all the intricate architectural elevations, perspectives, plots and projects, treated in black and white or in luscious color. Michel was warm and cordial (AND very, very handsome!)and with infinite patience showed me a myriad of designs, from simple hand drawings of unknown but talented architect to some famous ones. There were also some fine reproductions of some of the fine originals on vellum for framing or on small note cards.

My husband, Chris, was treated with equal courtesy by Michel’s father. My husband collects antique maps and was in his own little heaven on the other side of the shop perusing engravings and original lithographs from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries.

The prices ranged from just one or two €uros for note cards to several thousand €uros for rare lithographs and hand drawings.

Chris purchased a fine old lithographed map of Marseilles and I choose 2 original copper plate prints of the Tour Eiffel. We had our choices framed at Mégarte and when we picked them up the next day were very pleased at the care and detail in which it was done. (Also the price was very reasonable!)

We never reached our destination goal of a Champs du Mars picnic. We shared our fresh baguettes, rich, red wine, and fragrant cheeses with the proprietors, happily munching and discussing maps and architecture. The maps and prints that now grace our humble walls are treasured reminders of a grey Paris afternoon and shared passions for beautiful art.