The Louvre Museum is the greatest collection of priceless works of art. In terms of the size and significance of the exhibits, it competes only with a few no less famous collections of rarities: the Hermitage, the British and Cairo museums. The Louvre in Paris is one of the most visited attractions. Like the Eiffel Tower, this museum is a symbol of the French capital.
Look into the past
The Louvre Museum has a long and interesting history. Those who were fond of the novels of Alexandre Dumas know that he is constantly mentioned in them, but as a palace. Indeed, for many years the Louvre was the residence of the French kings.
It was founded in the 12th century on the lower Seine as part of a defensive fortification against enemy raids during the reign of King Philip Augustus. Later, when the threat of an attack on the city from this side had passed, the Louvre, the photo of which can be seen below, began to be used as a royal palace. The remains of the ancient walls can still be seen in the museum.
In the 16th century, a large-scale reconstruction of the old fortress began. Two wings were attached to it, and then it was connected to the Tuileries Palace. Over the next hundredyears, the area of the Louvre has quadrupled. In 1871, during the revolutionary events, the Tuileries Palace was burned by the rebellious Parisians. The surviving pavilions are now part of the museum complex.
At the end of the 17th century, Louis XIV suddenly lost interest in the palace and decided to build for himself a new magnificent country residence - Versailles. The Louvre is actually abandoned, and from that moment there are proposals to turn it into a museum. In the meantime, it housed administrative offices and artists' workshops. For the museum collection, it was proposed to use the Grand Gallery, having previously built a glazed ceiling in it for good illumination of the exhibits.
Stunning Louvre - France gets its long-awaited museum
Under King Louis XV of France, a project was developed to transform the Louvre and found a museum in it. For the first time its doors were opened to visitors in 1793, during the French Revolution. Ordinary Parisians were able to see the richest collections of art objects of their rulers.
After Napoleon Bonaparte came to power in the old residence of the French kings, construction work again intensified - the construction of the northern wing of the museum began.
The Louvre Museum owes much of its existence to the first emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Brilliant politician, he understood the value of art and how it can influence the masses. During the reign of NapoleonThe Louvre Museum bears his name. Campaigns in Egypt and the East made it possible to create a magnificent collection of art objects from these regions of the world. The triumphal march of the armies of the French emperor across Europe was accompanied by the plundering of the cultural values of the defeated countries. Selected works of art replenished the collection of the Louvre. After the defeat at Waterloo, France had to return some of the items.
After the events of the Paris Commune, the Louvre (photo of the museum can be seen below) takes on the usual features.
Administrative premises, which were in the Louvre, were gradually forced out of it. By the 1980s, the museum had at its disposal the entire huge complex of buildings. At the same time, the last process of reconstruction of the territory to date began.
Pyramid - adorable or unloved?
The Louvre Museum in Paris has always been famous for its unconventional approach and innovative ideas. In 1985, work began on the construction of a new main entrance to the building. They were led by architect Yo Ming Pei, according to whose project visitors were supposed to enter the Louvre through a huge glass pyramid located in Napoleon's courtyard. Three small pyramids nearby serve as portholes.
At first, the project was met with hostility by the Parisians and was heavily criticized. After the construction of the pyramid was completed, it turned out that it unexpectedly organically merged into the museum complex and gave it a finished, elegant, but at the same time avant-garde look.
Prototype structure (pyramidCheops) and the choice of its installation in the courtyard of Napoleon are symbolic - the first French emperor did a lot to turn the Louvre into a museum of world importance, and his trophies brought from Egypt became the basis for one of the best collections.
Now the famous Louvre pyramid has become another symbol of France, and the debate about its appropriateness has not subsided so far. Someone thinks that she offends the museum with her avant-garde and unusual, but many French people liked the combination of new and old. The opinion of tourists is unequivocal - the pyramid delights them. Since its inception, the annual number of visitors to the Louvre has increased several times.
The basis of the museum's collection
Many French rulers were great connoisseurs and connoisseurs of art. They amassed magnificent collections of paintings and statues. This is, first of all, Francis I, who was fond of the culture of the Renaissance and surrounded himself with scientists and people of art. At his request, Leonardo da Vinci came to France, who became a close friend of the ruler. Many famous artists of the Renaissance created paintings on his orders. Italian canvases, especially La Gioconda by da Vinci, were included in the Louvre collection thanks to Francis I. Some of the exhibits are paintings by famous masters acquired by Louis XIV.
The museum received a huge number of valuable items during the wars of conquest in Napoleonic France. This is the Egyptian collection.
Now there are about 300 thousand objects of art in the Louvre. Of these, approximately 35,000 are available to visitors. Many exhibits can only bein special vaults and are available for viewing for a short period. Therefore, the Louvre often arranges special exhibitions, which present rare works of art that are not available for permanent viewing. Tourist reviews about them are always the most enthusiastic.
Exhibits: a collection of world masterpieces
It is physically impossible to go around all the halls of the Louvre when visiting the museum. For a leisurely inspection of its exhibits, you need several days. If they are not there, you can develop a route in advance in order to have time to see at least the most famous works of art stored in it:
1. Mona Lisa is Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. This is a picture that hides more than one secret. For those who see her for the first time, the small size of the canvas will be a surprise.
2. The sculptures of the Louvre are a real treasure trove of the masters of antiquity. But among them there is an unsurpassed masterpiece - Venus de Milo. It was found in 1820 on the Turkish island of Milos (hence its name) and was hardly taken to France. The Turkish government later regretted very much that it allowed the redemption of the statue.
3. Nike of Samothrace is another example of the unsurpassed skill of ancient Greek sculptors. Like Venus de Milo, the statue is badly damaged, but even in this form it amazes museum visitors with its beauty.
4. The famous painting by Jacques Louis David - the favorite artist of the first emperor of France - "The Coronation of Napoleon" is worth devoting time to. The picturesque canvas is large and striking in its scale.
Where the museum is located
It is located in the very center of Paris, in its historical part. Rue Rivoli on the right bank of the Seine - here is a huge museum complex.
How to get into it
To visit France and not see the Louvre is an unforgivable mistake for a cultured person. This museum is one of the most important tourist places. This means long queues in which you can lose several hours. They are caused by strict security measures: security checks on bags, metal detectors. Tickets to the Louvre can be bought at the museum box office or in advance. The second option is much more convenient because it allows you to skip the queue. Tickets purchased in advance have an unlimited validity period, which allows you to choose any convenient day to visit the museum. For those under the age of 18, entry is free.
Famous museum in cinema and literature
The Louvre is so culturally significant that it has long been an inspiration itself. A huge number of paintings were dedicated to him, he is mentioned in many literary works and films. A prime example is the best-selling book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The beginning of all events in it is directly connected with the museum. And the story ends here.
The Louvre is part of the great heritage of the past, it carefully preserves the treasures of the genius of human art.
