Paris concentrates an incredible number of attractions that travelers visit during a vacation in the French capital. One of these unique places, which should visit every tourist – the famous Louvre Museum.
History of the Louvre
The Louvre Museum was opened to the public on August 10, 1993, during the French Revolution. At first it was called the Napoleon Museum. The Fund of the Louvre Museum was originally created from the so-called royal collection. It was started by Francisco I, who acquired masterpieces for himself, one of which was the world-famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
During the Napoleonic wars, the collection was gradually enriched by various kinds of war trophies, as well as archaeological finds from the Middle East, and from Egypt in particular.
The exhibits as well as the paintings that are on display in this museum are world famous. Hundreds of tourists from all countries come to Paris to see them with their own eyes.
|
Paintings and exhibits from the Louvre
For most tourists, a visit to the museum begins with the glass pyramid standing in the courtyard. This extraordinary construction is the new entrance to the Louvre. The escalator then leads to the three four-level wings of the palace, which are represented by the north wing of the Richelieu Building; the Suelli Building at the east end; and the Denon Building to the south, along the Seine.
Once you buy your admission ticket, get ready for a long trip. Today, the Louvre’s art collection numbers about 30,000 works of art. Exhibits.
Let’s take a closer look at the most famous paintings and exhibits at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Hammurabi Code
The Code of Hammurabi is a body of law that includes a total of two hundred and eighty-two provisions, both private and public law, carved in cuneiform on a two-meter tall stele of black basalt.
This stele was found at the very beginning of the 20th century, after which the inscriptions on it were transferred to special plaques made of clay. At the top of the stele is an image of the Pharaoh, to whom the god Shaman hands two hundred and eighty-two laws.
This monument reflects the social life of Babylon in the period following the conquest of Mesopotamia, together with its highly developed sense of civic duty, thriving trade, and thriving agriculture.
Sitting scribe
This sculpture dates back to 2500 B.C. It is located in the department of ancient Egyptian art, which was created by the first French researcher of the mysteries of hieroglyphs, as well as a specialist in Egyptology, Jean-François Champollion. This exhibition tells visitors to the Louvre about the funeral traditions of the ancient Egyptians, who belonged to the wealthy class, as well as the life of the less wealthy strata of the population of Ancient Egypt.
This sculpture is made of painted limestone. Its main distinguishing feature is its extraordinary realism: the scribe, who is about to write something on papyrus, has a very concentrated expression on his face. The use of a special material for the eyes, namely rock crystal, gives it such a mimicry.
Venus of Milos
This masterpiece of so-called Hellenistic art was found on the island of Milos in the twenties of the nineteenth century, after which it was purchased by the French ambassador to Constantinople Marquis de Rivière and presented by him as a gift to the French king Louis the eighteenth.
The height of this sculpture is more than two and a half meters. It is made of such material as Paros marble. Venus’ magnificent naked torso can be seen from the clothes, which are down almost to her hips. The sculpture radiates simply divine beauty. You could say that it is simply the benchmark for the synthesis of sensuality with beauty.
Madonna in the Rocks by Leonardo Da Vinci
This work of art is a unique combination of scientific and experimental research and artistic creativity. It is one of the highest expressions of culture, which belongs to the Renaissance. This painting is characterized by such qualities as nobility of interpretation, as well as great harmony of style, which, in turn, gives extraordinary expressiveness and power to absolutely all the images that are presented in it.
The dominant figure, as is already clear from the very title of the picture, is the figure of the Madonna. It’s like she’s intangible. When looking at the picture, it seems as if it dissolves into the rest of the components.
Marriage in Cana Veronese
The author of this painting is the famous Venetian painter Veronese, whose work is characterized by spontaneity. He managed to convey in his paintings of nature majestically, but also quite freely.
Dürer’s Self-Portrait
This painting depicts the painter Albert Dürer holding a thistle in his right hand. At the top of the picture you can see the inscription, which can be translated as “my deeds are determined from above.” With this the artist emphasized his devotion to God.
Barbadori Altar
The author of the painting is the famous Italian artist Filippo Lippi. It is made in the form of a triptych. The painting depicts saints, namely Our Lady with the Child, St. Augustine, as well as St. Fridian. In the background you can see a monk-slash-monk. There is an opinion that this is a self-portrait.
Interesting facts about the Louvre
Over its long history, the Parisian museum has collected a lot of interesting facts about itself. For example:
- The Louvre is currently the most visited museum in the entire world. The record number of visitors, namely 10 million, was here in 2012.
- To go around the Louvre in one day is almost impossible. It will take at least a week to get a quick look at all the paintings and the exhibits.
- The Louvre is the first museum in the proper sense of the word, not just a collection of paintings like the Hermitage, for example.
- From the French “Louvre” translates as “wolf forest”.
- The museum consists of two parts: the new and the old. The “Old Louvre” is mostly used today as a storehouse, and the “New” is home to administrative buildings and paintings.
Undoubtedly, the Louvre Museum in Paris is a treasure trove of imperishable values. Many of the great creations of the country and even the world have found their place here. The Louvre is a must-see when visiting the French capital.
