8 May, Victory in Europe Day (VE), Fête de la Victoire, a public holiday in France celebrates the end of the Second World War in Europe.

May 2nd marks the anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise.

Among world famous artists such as Turner, Ruskin and Whistler who visited Amboise to sketch the famous Château, was Whistler’s friend Rodin.

In 1888, in Amboise, James McNeill Whistler had never been so happy. He was on his honeymoon, with his beloved Trixie in his beloved France. He was fifty, Beatrix was thirty. It was his first marriage, her second. They had known each other for many years.

Turner’s book, Wanderings By The Loire, inspired English artists to paint Château Amboise.

Many know Turner, the artist. Many know Louis-Philippe, the last king of France. Not many know that the son of a poor Londoner and the French aristocrat, admired each other, became friends and stayed friends, or that in October 1826 Turner came to Amboise to sketch the Royal Château. It was empty. Louis Philippe was not invited to be King of the French until 1830.

A Dutch artist with the wonderful name of Lambert Doomer, arrived in Amboise in the summer of 1646. He left with a sketchbook of wonderful drawings which captured the spirit of the age.

Millions flock to Rome to gaze on Michelangelo’s Pietà, one of the most magnificent works of art the world has ever seen but how many of them know that it was commissioned by a French man?