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1900s: A female artist has a chance to become someone…but there’s a catch…
The Blue
What you need to know before your trail
In eighteenth century London, porcelain is the most seductive of commodities; fortunes are made and lost upon it. Kings do battle with knights and knaves for possession of the finest pieces and the secrets of their manufacture.
For Genevieve Planché, an English-born descendant of Huguenot refugees, porcelain holds far less allure; she wants to be an artist, a painter of international repute, but nobody takes the idea of a female artist seriously in London. If only she could reach Venice.
When Genevieve meets the charming Sir Gabriel Courtenay, he offers her an opportunity she can’t refuse; if she learns the secrets of porcelain, he will send her to Venice. But in particular, she must learn the secrets of the colour blue…
The ensuing events take Genevieve deep into England’s emerging industrial heartlands, where not only does she learn about porcelain, but also about the art of industrial espionage.
With the heart and spirit of her Huguenot ancestors, Genevieve faces her challenges head on, but how much is she willing to suffer in pursuit and protection of the colour blue?
Locations
ResetTravel Guide
Travel through the world of Blue and porcelain
London
It all starts here with the wonderful depiction of artistic London. Spitalfields is the heart of creative London with traders, painters and artists of all descriptions plying their trade. The market is famous for the many silkweavers who work and design there, importing all the best silks from abroad. There is fierce competition in this trade though and the search for the best silk and aim of being the best trader is fierce.
The search for good paint and the perfect colour blue takes Genevieve through the local streets, backstreets and workshops. All around, the political situation is dangerous and there is a sense that no one is safe no matter what their religious or political leanings might be.
Hogarth the painter lives around this area and he is one of the sponsors of the new foundling hospital which needed rich people like him to support the poor and more unfortunate people of the time.
The British Museum was in its infancy and this was heralded as a place for new discoveries, new opportunities and a place for artists and scientists to mix.
Derby
The heartland of porcelain in the novel where Genevieve travels to to visit the huge factory and pottery stores. There is also a bridge which has a chapel on it which fascinates her. You can visit this now and find out the real story behind such a site. Derby is small with cobbled streets and it fascinates Genevieve for being outside of London but such a hub of industry and new porcelain.
Paris – Sevres
Sevres is a suburb of Paris and Genevieve visits here to see the factory and the famous work that is done here. They spend time at Versailles and she is amazed at the standard and beauty of colour and art here.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Blue
Destination: London, Derby, Paris Author/guide: Nancy Bilyeau Departure: 1900s
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