Eugene Boudin is a great artist whose creativity has often been damned with faint praise, as in the paean ‘King of the skies.’ He is not usually recognized as a major influence in the evolution of western art and the fact that he has not been the subject of a single retrospective since 1899 is one indication of that. I have long felt he deserves recognition as a major bridge between the art of J.M.W Turner and Impressionism, and the 19th century heir and foremost interpreter of the Dutch School of seascape painting. He is also the genius without whom Claude Monet’s evolution would have been very different.

Happily, a very worthy retrospective of over 60 works of Eugene Boudin has just opened at one of the most enjoyable small museums in Paris, the Jacquemart Andre. It will run until July 22, 2013. Unlike many of the small Paris museums, this one frequently attracts long lines of visitors, so you will do well to buy your tickets on-line and spare yourself a long queue.

Main dining room at Les Fougeres

Tucked away in a quiet street (10, rue Villebois Mareuil) in the 17th district of Paris, just north of the avenue des Ternes, you will be delighted to find a haven of refined cuisine, warm hospitality and tranquility. Chef Stephane Duchiron’s approach to classic French cuisine draws on the marriage of complex flavors and textures, and the pleasure you will derive from it is matched by the attentive and friendly service, provided in an understated setting that is elegant by virtue of its simplicity.

Prices are moderate, and the set meal at lunch is a great value. We asked for a glass of chardonnay wine and were delighted with the excellent St. Romain that they opened for us.  01 40 68 78 66. Closed Saturday and Sunday, August and a week at Christmas.

Of the more than 120 museums in Paris, one of the most interesting rarely gets the attention it deserves, over-shadowed as it is by its neighbor, the Louvre. The Decorative Arts Museum resides in the Louvre’s north wing, but many Louvre visitors pass right by it, unaware of its existence. That is a pity, as it provides a convincing display of the extraordinary artistry in French arts of living, expressed in furniture, the arts of the table, and various decorative arts in general, starting from the Middle Ages, and running through to the 20th century.

Until February 10th, visitors to the Decorative Arts Museum have an extra reason for exploring this wonderful establishment, an exhibition of jewelry produced by Van Cleef & Arpels, one of France’s most fabled jewelry houses. Brilliantly displayed, many of the 500 pieces appear to float, almost within touch, in an ethereal atmosphere that perfectly matches the magic aura of many of the works themselves. Items on display span a century of artistic creativity.

Tickets for the museum and the exhibit are sold separately or together. They can also be bought on-line at the FNAC website.