The central heating in the shop is switched on so the few book-browsers who find their way to 7 rue de la Poelerie are assured of a warm welcome with no pressure to buy. This beautiful browser was captured reading in The Glass Key by Theodore Roussel in 1886/1887 and the original painting can been seen in Tate Britain, London.
Browsers at The Glass Key bookshop in the Cité de l’Ecrit in Montmorillon, France often make a special effort to look at their best before spending time looking over the stock. This lady was captured browsing in 1912 by Félix Vallotton and the painting (now in private hands) is captioned Reader with a yellow necklace. I think the book she is reading remains in my stock.
The Glass Key in the Cité de l’Ecrit in Montmorillon imposes no strict dress code on those who wish to come in and browse the wide selection of books available. Here a book-browser was immortalised quietly and unselfconsciously reading in The Glass Key by Albert Marquet who passed through Montmorillon in 1910. The original painting, Nu féminin debout lisant, remains in a private collection. I regret that all the pictures depicted in the background have been sold.
On his journey to Arles Vincent van Gogh stopped in Montmorillon and painted this picture of a book browser in The Glass Key bookshop in the Cité de l’Ecrit in Montmorillon. The painting titled L’Arlésienne (Madame Ginoux) and painted in 1888 can be seen the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Here is Eleanor of Aquitaine’s effigy at Fontevraud Abbey, where she is entombed, lying in her favourite perusing position. On her visits to The Glass Key bookshop in the Cité de l’Ecrit in Montmorillon Eleanor would have the owner provide a meridienne for her to use whilst browsing the stock. The shop continues to try and make its customers comfortable.
