Musée du Louvre
Shown within Paris
Established	1793
Location	Palais Royal, Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France
Visitor figures	8. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. 3 million (2007)[1]
Director	Henri Loyrette
Curator	Marie-Laure de Rochebrune
Public transit access	Metro, Palais Royal -- Musée du Louvre
Website	www.louvre.fr

Coordinates: 48°51′37″N 2°20′15″E / 48.860395, 2.337599

The Louvre (French: Musée du Louvre), in Paris, France, is one of the world's most visited art museums, a historic monument, and a national symbol. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the ^[2][3] The collection contains nearly 35,000 pieces displayed over the structure's 60,000 square metres (650,000 sq ft). ^[4] The museum is on the Right Bank, in the neighborhood referred to as the 1st arrondissement and lies between the Seine River and the Rue de Rivoli. La Rive Droite (the Right bank) is most associated with the Seine in central Paris. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie Rue de Rivoli is one of the most famous streets of Paris, a commercial street whose shops include the most fashionable names in the world The Louvre is slightly askew of the axe historique, a long architectural straightaway that cuts through the centre of Paris. The Axe historique ("historical axis" is a line of monuments buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the centre of Paris, France, to the ^[5]

The structure, begun in 1190 CE, originated as a fortress during the Capetian dynasty under the reign of Philip II and has been used as a residence. For the museum see Louvre Museum. The palais du Louvre in Paris, on the Right Bank of the Seine is a former royal For the Direct Capetians, who ruled France 987&ndash1328 see the House of Capet. Philip II Augustus (Philippe Auguste ( 21 August[[ 165]] &ndash 14 July 1223) was the King of France from 1180 until his death ^[6][7] Used as an art depository from the time of François I, it was opened to the public after the French Revolution. Francis I (September 12 1494 &ndash March 31 1547 was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547 The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an At that time, the Louvre was intended to symbolize the progress of Liberty and was a destination for many of the spoils brought home by Napoleon's victorious armies. Liberty, the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force In the 20th century, the structure was renovated to match modern museum standards during the Grand Louvre project. ^[6]

The museum is divided among eight curatorial departments, contains some of the world's most celebrated artworks and displays almost every genre of Western Art. In addition, the collection displays pieces of Egyptian, Oriental, and Islamic origin. Notable works include Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, and Madonna of the Rocks; Jacques Louis David's Oath of the Horatii; Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People; and Alexandros of Antioch's Venus de Milo. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda) is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a Poplar panel by The Virgin and Child with St Anne is an Oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting St The Virgin of the Rocks (sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks) is the usual title used for Jacques-Louis David (August 30 1748 &ndash December 29 1825 was a highly influential French painter in the Neoclassical style considered to be Oath of the Horatii ( 1784) is a painting by Jacques-Louis David, painted before the French Revolution depicting the Roman salute. Liberty Leading the People (La Liberté guidant le peuple is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830 which toppled Alexandros of Antioch was an otherwise unknown artist of the Hellenistic age who is most well known today for the Venus de Milo ( Aphrodite of Milos The Aphrodite of Milos (Greek "Αφροδίτη της Μήλου" better known as the Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue ^[6]

History

Le Palais du Louvre

The only portion of the medieval Louvre still visible^[5]

Main article: Palais du Louvre

From 1190 to 1202 CE, during the reign of Philip Augustus, construction commenced on a fortress that would become the Louvre. For the museum see Louvre Museum. The palais du Louvre in Paris, on the Right Bank of the Seine is a former royal Philip II Augustus (Philippe Auguste ( 21 August[[ 165]] &ndash 14 July 1223) was the King of France from 1180 until his death ^[8][9][10] It is unknown if this was the first building to be constructed on that spot, although contemporary references suggest a predecessor. ^[7][9] The origin of the name Louvre is murky. The historian Mary Knight Potter contends that King Philip II referred to the structure as L'Œuvre (the masterpiece) because it was the largest building in 13th-century Paris. Henri Sauval proposes a derivation from leouar (castle, fortress) which he claims to have found in an "old Latin-Saxon glossary" while Henry Sutherland Edwards posits rouvre (oak), referring to the building's location in a forest. Henri Sauval ( 1623 - 21 March 1676) was a French Historian. Son of an advocate in the Parlement, he was born in ^[5][9]

The only portion still extant from the medieval period is the foundation of the southeast corner. ^[5] Additions were completed notably by Charles V, who in 1358 built a defensive wall around the fortress and converted the Louvre into a royal residence. Charles V ( 21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380) called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death and a member ^[10] In 1546, Francois I removed the medieval keep and decided to modernize the structure in line with Renaissance stylistic preferences and employed architect Pierre Lescot and sculptor Jean Goujon. Francis I (September 12 1494 &ndash March 31 1547 was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547 The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Pierre Lescot ( Paris c 1510 &ndash Paris September 1578 was a French Architect active during the French Renaissance, "the Jean Goujon ( Normandy ? c 1510 &ndash Bologna after 1572) French sculptor and Architect, is one of the major figures ^[11] Lescot built the Pavillon de Roi, razed the western wing and replaced it with a two-story structure, and installed the Salle des Caryatides on the ground floor. The latter room is given its name from the caryatids sculpted by Goujon which are based on Greek/Roman works. Working with the woodcarver Scibec de Carpi, Lescot also added a ceiling to King Henry II's royal chamber, which was revolutionary compared with the established beam-style. Henry II may refer to King or Emperor Henry II Holy Roman Emperor, Saint Henry II (972-1024 Holy Roman Emperor Henry II of Castile ^[12] These modifications combine "classicism and traditional French architecture" and are considered prime examples of the French Renaissance style. ^[13][14][15]

In 1564, Henri II's wife, Catherine de'Medici directed the building of the Palais des Tuileries, which faced the Louvre. Catherine de' Medici (April 13 1519 &ndash January 5 1589 was born in Florence, Italy as Caterina Maria Romula di Lorenzo de' Medici. The Palais des Tuileries was a royal Palace in Paris. It stood on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed She intended that a gallery connect through the courtyard between the two palaces, but this was not built until later. In 1594, King Henry IV began construction on his "Grand Design", a renovation of the Louvre intended to remove remnants of the medieval fortress. Henry IV (Henri IV ( 13 December 1553 &ndash 14 May 1610) ruled as King of France from 1589 to 1610 and as Henry III The plan included the 460-metre (1,509 ft) Grande Galerie, a linkage between the Pavillon de Flore, the Louvre, and the Palais des Tuileries. The Pavillon de Flore is a section of the Palais du Louvre in Paris, France. The gallery was completed by 1610, when the Pavillon de Flore was covered. However, Henry IV was stabbed that year and his Grand Design lay unfinished. ^[13][14][16]

In 1624, the classical architects Le Vau and Lemercier completed the design of the Cour Carrée under Louis XIII and Louis XIV reigns, quadrupling the size of the old courtyard. Louis Le Vau (1612 – October 11 1670) was a French Classical Architect who worked for Louis XIV of France. Jacques Lemercier ( Pontoise c 1585 &ndash Paris January 13, 1654) was a French Architect and Engineer For the cognac see Louis XIII de Rémy Martin. Louis XIII ( September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643) Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent ^[17] The eponymous Le Vau-Le Mercier Wing was also finished and is still visible today. In 1659, Louis XIV instigated a new phase of production under Le Vau, Le Nôtre, and painter Charles le Brun. André Le Nôtre ( March 12, 1613 &ndash September 15 1700) was a Landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV Charles Le Brun (24 February 1619 - 22 February 1690 was a French painter and art theorist, one of the dominant artists in 17th century France. Le Nôtre was charged with creating the Tuileries garden in the courtyard between the palaces; Le Vau finished work on the Tuileries palace, and Le Brun completed the decoration of the Gallerie d'Apollon. ^[13] Progress on the building slowed after Louis XIV chose Versailles as his residence. Versailles (vɛʀsaj in French) formerly de facto capital of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important Although the pace diminished, a colonnade was constructed along the eastern side, and a facade was built on the south. The royal household's move to Versaille allowed the Louvre to be used as residence for many painters and artists; however, this transformation was not finished until the French Revolution. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an ^[9][14]

French Revolution

The Richelieu Wing of the Louvre at night

The Louvre as a showplace for artwork dates from the time of François I, but it was not until the French Revolution that the royal collection opened to the public and became the "Muséum central des Arts". Francis I (September 12 1494 &ndash March 31 1547 was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547 The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an ^[9][18] On 10 August 1792, the Bourbon monarchy collapsed, Louis XVI was imprisoned, and all art in the royal collection was declared to be national property (biens nationaux). Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. Louis XVI ( 23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) Louis-Auguste de France, ruled as King of France and Navarre The National Assembly, deciding that the collection had been weakened by being "dispersed" and that the matter was "urgent", turned the palace into a museum. The National Assembly is either a Legislature, or the Lower house of a Bicameral legislature in some countries ^[18] The royal collection was combined with Church property, which had been appropriated by the State in 1789. ^[13] With legal authorization given on 6 May 1791, the marquis de Marigny and his successor, the comte d'Angiviller, began developing the Louvre's permanent collection. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 1791 ( MDCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Abel-François Poisson de Vandières marquis de Marigny and marquis de Menars, often referred to simply as the Marquis de Marigny (1727 Paris Charles-Claude Flahaut de la Billaderie comte d'Angiviller (1730 — 1810 was the director of the Bâtiments du Roi, a forerunner of a minister of fine arts in charge ^[18]

The museum opened to the public on 10 August 1793, with much fanfare, because the national artistic display was seen as a demonstration of revolutionary ideals. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1793 ( MDCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common That works once reserved for the ancien régime were viewable by the public was important to the nascent republic as a "benefit of Liberty". Ancien Régime ( pronounced: /ɑ̃sjɛ̃ ʁeʒim/ refers primarily to the aristocratic social and political system established in ^[18] The museum's opening was hectic, as artists lived in residence, and works were placed randomly throughout the old palace. However, the republic dedicated a considerable sum, 100,000 livres per year, to help the institution expand its collection with works from abroad. The livre tournois (" Tours pound " was one of numerous currencies used in France in the Middle Ages; and a money of ^[5] From 1794 onwards, France's victorious revolutionary armies brought back increasing numbers of pieces from across Europe, aiming to establish the Louvre as a major European museum and a symbol of revolutionary progress. ^[18] Significant additions to the young collection were masterpieces from Italy, including the Laocoon and his sons and the Apollo Belvedere from the papal collection, which arrived in Paris in July 1798 with much pomp and ceremony. The statue of Laocoön and His Sons, also called the Laocoön Group, is a monumental Marble sculpture now in the Vatican Museums, ^[9][18][13]

Napoleon

Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss was commissioned in 1787, and the first version was donated to the Louvre after the reign of Napoleon I in 1824. Antonio Canova 's Statue Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, first commissioned in 1787 exemplifies the Neoclassical obsession with love and Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. ^[19]

During Napoleon's European conquests, the museum augmented its collection, and Napoleon appointed its first director, Dominique Vivant, baron de Denon, after the Egyptian campaign of 1798–1801. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Dominique Vivant Baron de Denon ( 4 January, 1747 &ndash 27 April, 1825) was a French Artist, Writer, Diplomat In tribute, the museum was renamed the "Musée Napoléon" in 1803, and many works were added to the collection from countries such as Spain, Austria, Holland, and Italy. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest These were often met by gleeful Parisians, who escorted the works to the museum along the quais of the Seine. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie ^[5]

After the French defeat at Waterloo, the former owners of many acquisitions sought their return. The administrators of the Louvre were loathe to comply and hid some of the works in their private collections. In response, foreign states sent emissaries to London to seek help in making the French comply, and many of the pieces were returned. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The diminished Louvre began adding articles from other Parisian institutions such as the Luxembourg Palace, from which the Rubens' collection, the Life of St. The Palais du Luxembourg in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, north of the Jardin du Luxembourg, is where the French Senate meets Bruno, and works by Vernet were acquired. ^[5]

19th century after Napoleon

The Venus de Milo was added to the Louvre's collection during the reign of Louis XVIII. The Aphrodite of Milos (Greek "Αφροδίτη της Μήλου" better known as the Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue Louis XVIII (17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824 Louis Stanislas Xavier de France, was a King of France and Navarre.

After the fall of Napoleon, during the Restoration (1814–30), the monarchies of Louis XVIII and Charles X together added 135 pieces at a cost of 720,000 francs. Louis XVIII (17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824 Louis Stanislas Xavier de France, was a King of France and Navarre. Charles X may refer to Charles X Gustav of Sweden (1622–1660 Charles X of France (1757–1836 This was considerably less than the amount given for rehabilitation of Versailles, and the Louvre suffered relative to the rest of Paris. Versailles (vɛʀsaj in French) formerly de facto capital of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city After the creation of the French Second Republic in 1848, the new government allocated two million francs for repair work neglected by the monarchy and ordered the completion of the Galerie d'Apollon, the Salon Carré, and the Grande Galerie, additions which face the Seine. History Revolution of 1848 See also Mid-nineteenth century France The industrial population of the Faubourgs The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie ^[5]

On 2 December 1851, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, who had been elected President of the Republic, staged a coup d'état by dissolving the National Assembly and ushering in the Second French Empire. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte may refer to Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon I and King of Holland Napoleon III of France, son of Louis The French Coup d'état of December 2nd 1851 staged by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (at the time President of the Second French Republic) ended in the successful dissolution The National Assembly is either a Legislature, or the Lower house of a Bicameral legislature in some countries The Second French Empire or Second Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870 between the Second Between 1852 and 1870, the French economy grew; the museum added 20,000 new pieces to its collections, and the link to the Tuileries was completed via the Pavillon de Flore. The Palais des Tuileries was a royal Palace in Paris. It stood on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed The Pavillon de Flore is a section of the Palais du Louvre in Paris, France. ^[5][13] Several thousand artworks, including 200 paintings and many bronzes and sculptures arrived after the acquisition of the Campana museum. Giampietro Campana (1808 — 10 October 1880) created marchese di Cavelli (1849 assembled one of the nineteenth century's greatest collection of These additions included the Sarcophagus of a Married Couple, jewelry, and various maiolicas. Maiolica designates Italian Tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. ^[13] Further purchases or gifts of 133 more works and 256 pieces given to the institution were styled the Collection Lacaze. These included works by Rembrandt such as Bathsheba at Her Bath. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15 1606 &ndash October 4 1669 was a Dutch painter and etcher. Bathsheba at Her Bath is an Oil painting of Bathsheba by Rembrandt from 1654. ^[13] This period of rapid growth continued into the early 20th century, when it became evident that the structure was too small for the amount of work displayed. ^[5]

Third Republic to present

The French Third Republic began after the demise of the Second Empire and the Franco Prussian War of 1870. The French Third Republic (in French, La Troisième République, sometimes written as La IIIe The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War ( 19 July, 1870 — 10 May, 1871 During this period, the Louvre acquired new pieces via donations and large gifts, such as those from Baron Devaillier and Madame Boucicaut. The Société des Amis du Louvre donated the Pieta of Villeneuve lès Avignon, and in 1863 the sculpture Winged Victory of Samothrace was uncovered in an archaeological expedition in the Aegean Sea. The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, is a third Etymology In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean. This particular piece, despite being heavily damaged, is considered one of the Louvre's most valuable pieces and has been on prominent display since 1884. ^[5][13]

This growth period was disrupted by the First and Second World Wars. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including During both, many of the structure's most valuable pieces were hidden, specifically the Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa. The Aphrodite of Milos (Greek "Αφροδίτη της Μήλου" better known as the Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda) is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a Poplar panel by After the wars, the museum was unable to acquire many significant works, with exceptions of Georges de la Tour's Saint Thomas and the collection of prints and drawings given via the donation of Baron Edmond de Rothschild's (1845–1934) collection in 1935. Georges de La Tour ( Vic-sur-Seille, March 13, 1593 &ndash Lunéville, January 30, 1652) was a painter, Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild ( August 19, 1845 – November 2, 1934) was a French member of the Rothschild banking This donation contained more than 40,000 engravings, nearly 3,000 drawings and 500 illustrated books. ^[13]

The Louvre today is a monument and comprehensive museum. The structure contains elements of the medieval beginnings, Renaissance additions, renovations in neoclassical style, and recent modifications such as elevators. ^[6] The contemporary Louvre is also notable in popular culture, having been a point of interest in the movie The Da Vinci Code. The Da Vinci Code is a controversial mystery / detective Novel by US author Dan Brown, published in 2003 by Doubleday ^[20]

Axe historique

The Louvre is not aligned upon the axe historique, as evidenced by the image above, notice how the garden surrounding the destroyed Tuileries palace is aligned upon the axis while the Louvre courtyard is not. The Axe historique ("historical axis" is a line of monuments buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the centre of Paris, France, to the

Main article: Axe historique

The destroyed Tuileries Palace, once connected to the Louvre, lay at the eastern end of the Axe historique (Historic Axis), an 8-kilometre (5 mi) long straightaway that begins at La Défense and includes the Champs Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. The Axe historique ("historical axis" is a line of monuments buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the centre of Paris, France, to the The Palais des Tuileries was a royal Palace in Paris. It stood on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed La Défense is a major Business district for the city of Paris, bordering Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of the city itself The Avenue des Champs-Élysées (ʃɑ̃zeliˈze) is the most prestigious avenue in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris, France that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle also known as the Place de l'Étoile. The axis was begun in 1572 when architect André Le Nôtre planted a line of trees from the Louvre courtyard to the Tuileries. André Le Nôtre ( March 12, 1613 &ndash September 15 1700) was a Landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV ^[21] In 1871, when the Paris Commune burned the palace to the ground, it became possible to see that the Louvre was not aligned on the long axis. The Paris Commune (La Commune de Paris was a Government that briefly ruled Paris from 18 March (more formally from 26 March) to 28 May The museum had appeared to be along the same sight line as the Champs Élysées, but after destruction of the palace, it was clear that it was not. ^[22]

Pyramid and Grand Louvre

Main article: Louvre Pyramid

French President Francois Mitterand proposed to enhance the Louvre in 1983. The Louvre Pyramid is a large Glass and metal Pyramid, surrounded by three smaller ones in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum ( Musée du Louvre François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand ( 26 October 1916 8 January 1996 served as President of France from 1981 to 1995 elected as representative of the Socialist His plans included the renovation of the building and moving the Finance Ministry elsewhere, permitting display throughout. I.M. Pei, a Chinese-American architect, was awarded the project and proposed a glass pyramid for the central courtyard, which he argued created a "strong symbolic element . Ieoh Ming Pei ( (b April 26, 1917) commonly known by his initials I . . delicate and stable, correctly proportioned so as not to overwhelm the architecture of the Louvre but rearing its point there. . . "^[6] The pyramid and underground lobby, which enclose the entrance area, was inaugurated on October 15, 1988. Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) ^[6]

Courtyard of Museum of Louvre, at night, with the Pyramid prominently displayed at centre

Departments and organization

The Musée du Louvre's collection contains more than 380,000 objects and displays 35,000 works of art drawn from eight curatorial departments. More than 60,600 square metres (652,000 sq ft) of exhibition space is dedicated to the permanent collection. ^[23] According to the 2005 annual report, the collection includes 11,900 paintings, the second largest holding of Western pictorial art in the world after the State Hermitage in Russia. The State Hermitage Museum (Государственный Эрмитаж Gosudarstvennyj Èrmitaž) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest Six thousand paintings are on permanent display, and 5,900 are in storage. Besides paintings, the Louvre exhibits include sculptures, objets d'art, and archaeological finds. In Fine art, a work of art (or artwork or work) is a creation such as a Song, Book, Film, Video game, Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos ^[5][13] Oversight of the property is carried out by nearly 2,000 Louvre employees led by Henri Loyrette, the director. ^[24]

Decorative arts

The Diadem of the Duchess of Angoulême contains gold, gilt silver, 40 emeralds and 1031 diamonds. The crown matches an emerald necklace made by Paul-Nicolas Menière in 1814 and is housed in the Decorative Arts department.

The decorative arts, or objects d'art, department contains thousands of works spanning a period from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century. The collection began through appropriation of royal property after the revolution, mostly from Louis XIV, and the transfer of work from the Basilique Saint-Denis, the burial ground of French monarchs that held the Coronation Sword of the Kings of France. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent The Basilica of Saint Denis ( French: Basilique de Saint-Denis, or simply Basilique Saint-Denis) is the burial site of almost all the French ^[13][6] Among the budding collection's most prized works were pietre dure vases and bronzes, and in fact the decorative arts collection was initially part of the sculpture department. Pietre dure (or Parchin kari, in South Asia is an art-historical term for the technique of using small exquisitely cut and fitted highly-polished colored stones to create Soon, the acquisition of the Durand collection in 1825 augmented the Louvre collection with "ceramics, enamels, and stained glass", and 800 additional pieces were given by Pierre Revoil. Ceramics and ceramic art in the art world means artwork made out of clay bodies and fired to form a ceramic. For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art The onset of Romanticism during the second half of the 18th century rekindled interest in Renaissance and Medieval artwork, and the Sauvageot donation expanded the department's holdings with nearly 1,500 middle age and faience works. Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere For the architectural material see Glazed architectural terra-cotta. The acquisition of the Campana collection in 1862 added gold jewelry and majolicas, mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries. Giampietro Campana (1808 — 10 October 1880) created marchese di Cavelli (1849 assembled one of the nineteenth century's greatest collection of ^[6][25]

The department's pieces are displayed primarily on the first floor of the Richelieu Wing and in the Apollo Gallery, named by painter Charles Le Brun, who was commissioned by Louis XIV, the "Sun King", to decorate the space with his theme, the sun. Charles Le Brun (24 February 1619 - 22 February 1690 was a French painter and art theorist, one of the dominant artists in 17th century France. The medieval collection notably contains the coronation crown of Louis XIV, Charles V's sceptre, and the 12th century porphyry vase. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent Charles V may refer to Charles V of France Charles V Holy Roman Emperor Charles V Duke of Lorraine ^[26] The Renaissance art holdings include Giambologna's bronze Nessus and Deianira and the tapestry Maximillian's Hunt, often cited. Giambologna, born as Jean Boulogne, also known as Giovanni Da Bologna and Giovanni Bologna ( 1529 - August 13 1608) was Tapestry is a form of Textile art. It is woven by hand on a vertical Loom. ^[13] From later periods, highlights include Madame de Pompadour's Sevres vase collection and the Napoleon III's royal apartments. Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour ( December 29, 1721 &ndash April 15, 1764 Sèvres is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. Napoléon III, also known as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (full name Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte) (20 April 1808 9 January 1873 was the first President ^[13]

Egyptian antiquities

The Seated Scribe is a piece added to the Louvre's collection from the findings of Auguste Mariette and dates from between 2600 and 2350 BCE. The French scholar and archaeologist François Auguste Ferdinand Mariette ( February 11, 1821 &ndash January 19, 1881) was the foremost The limestone and alabaster work was found in a tomb near Saqqara. Saqqara or Sakkara, Saqqarah ( Arabic: سقارة is a vast ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the world's oldest standing Step This piece is noted for its "lifelike expression". ^[6]

The Egyptian antiquities department holds more than 50,000 pieces from the Nile civilizations, dating from 4,000 BCE, to the 4th century CE. The Nile (النيل, Ancient Egyptian iteru or Ḥ'pī, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing River The renowned holdings attest to 19th century French Egyptology and include works of Ancient Egypt; the Middle Kingdom; the New Kingdom; the Roman, Ptolemaic, and Byzantine periods; and Coptic art. Egyptology (from Egypt and Greek grc -λογία -logia. علم المصريات مصر شناسی is a major field of Archaeology Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now The New Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in Ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and Ægyptus redirects here See Egypt Province for the province of the Ottoman Empire Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra ^[26] Egyptian artifacts from the royal collection predated the department and Napoleon, but European interest in Egypt was augmented by Napoléon's 1798 expeditionary trip. Dominique Vivant, a future director of the Louvre, then known as the Musée Napoléon, participated in the expedition. Dominique Vivant Baron de Denon ( 4 January, 1747 &ndash 27 April, 1825) was a French Artist, Writer, Diplomat ^[6][27] The department opened in 1826 after a decree by King Charles X, impressed by the holdings of Rosetta Stone translator Jean-François Champollion, who was appointed director. Charles X may refer to Charles X Gustav of Sweden (1622–1660 Charles X of France (1757–1836 The Rosetta Stone is an Ancient Egyptian artifact (حجر رشيد in Arabic which was instrumental in advancing modern understanding of hieroglyphic writing Jean-François Champollion ( 23 December 1790 – 4 March 1832) was a French classical scholar, philologist The initial collection expanded with 2,500 works from Durand's holdings and 4,000 from the "Egyptian Consul to Alexandria". ^[6] The department continued to grow with acquisitions by Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo who, after being dispatched to Egypt, sent back crates of archaeological finds, including the Seated Scribe. The French scholar and archaeologist François Auguste Ferdinand Mariette ( February 11, 1821 &ndash January 19, 1881) was the foremost The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to the most extensive collection of Ancient Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. ^[27]

The collection, housed primarily in the Cour Carée and Denon Wing includes art, papyrus scrolls, mummies, and artifacts and consists of 20 rooms arranged chronologically and guarded by the Large Sphinx at the entrance. Papyrus (/pəˈpaɪrəs/ (Rhymes -aɪrəs)is a thick paper-like material produced from the Pith of the papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus ^[6] Apart from documentation of Egyptian life, containing tools, clothing, jewelry, games, musical instruments, and weapons, the collection draws from all periods of ancient Egypt, permitting an overview from origin to the 4th century CE. Significant holdings from the Ancient period include the Gebel-el Arak knife from 3400 BCE, The Seated Scribe, and the Head of King Djedefre. The sculpture of the Seated Scribe is one of most important examples of ancient Egyptian art. The Middle Kingdom shows movement from realism to idealization and is exemplified by the sandstone statue of Amenemhatankh and the wooden Offering Bearer. ^[26] The New Kingdom and Coptic Egyptian sections are profoundly deep, but the statue of goddess Nephthys and the depiction of the goddess Hathor on limestone are cited as exemplifying the sentiment of the New Kingdom. In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys is the Greek form of an epithet (correctly spelled Nebet-het, and Nebt-het, in Transliteration from In Egyptian mythology, Hathor (Pronounced Hah-Thor ( Egyptian for house of Horus) was originally a personification of the Milky Way ^[26][27]

Greek, Etruscan, and Roman

A marble female head dating from the second century BCE. Although there appears to be no facial features aside from the nose, traces of pigment from other pieces indicate that these were added with paint. ^[6]

The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman department displays pieces from throughout the Mediterranean Basin and dating from the Neolithic to the 6th century CE. The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos ^[28] The collection is encyclopedic, containing examples from the early Cycladic period (notably by the marble Female Head, which dates to between 2700 and 2400 BCE), to the decline of the Roman Empire and showcases ceramics, marbles, ivories, frescoes, glass work, and precious metal items. The Cyclades ( Greek: Κυκλάδες / Kykládes) are Greek islands located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial ^[26] As with the Egyptian collection, this department began with appropriated royal art, some of which had been acquired under Francois I in the Salle des Caryatides. Francis I (September 12 1494 &ndash March 31 1547 was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547 ^[6] Initially, the collection focused on marble sculptures, such as the Venus de Milo. Marble is a nonfoliated Metamorphic rock resulting from the Metamorphism of Limestone, composed mostly of Calcite (a crystalline form of The Aphrodite of Milos (Greek "Αφροδίτη της Μήλου" better known as the Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue Works such as the Apollo Belvedere arrived during the Napoleonic Wars, but many of these pieces were returned after Napoleon's fall in 1815. In the 19th century the Louvre acquired vases from the Durand collection, bronzes such as the Borghese Vase from the Bibliothèque nationale, and work in other mediums. The vase (ˈveɪs /ˈveɪz/ or/ˈvɑːz/ is an open container often used to hold cut Flowers It can be made from a number of materials including Ceramics and Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus The Borghese Vase is a monumental bell-shaped Krater sculpted in Athens from Pentelic Marble ^[6][28]

The vast collection makes selection of notable works difficult. ^[26] From the archaic, the limestone Lady of Auxerre and Hera of Samos highlight two trends as the austerity of the Lady stands in contrast to the "cylindrical delicacy" of Hera. The small (65 cm high Limestone Cretan Sculpture called the Lady of Auxerre (or Kore of Auxerre) at the Louvre Museum in In the Olympian pantheon of classical Greek Mythology, Hera (ˈhɪərə or /ˈhɛrə/ Greek) or Here ( in Ionic and Homer ^[26] After the 4th century BCE, focus on the human form increased and is exemplified by the Borghese Gladiator, although the Winged Victory of Samothrace (190 BCE) and the Venus de Milo, which "symboliz[es] classical art" are among the most well-known of the Louvre's holdings. The so-called Borghese Gladiator is a Hellenistic lifesize marble sculpture that is actually of a swordsman The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, is a third The Aphrodite of Milos (Greek "Αφροδίτη της Μήλου" better known as the Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue ^[26][6] In the galleries paralleling the Seine, much of the expansive collection of Roman sculpture is displayed. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie ^[28] The Roman portraiture is particularly representative of that genre; examples include the portraits of Agrippa and Annius Verus, among the bronzes is the Greek Apollo of Piombino, which can be contrasted to the later portraits. A genre (ˈʒɑːnrə also /ˈdʒɑːnrə/ from French "kind" or "sort" from Latin: genus (stem gener-) is a loose set Agrippa redirects here For other uses of the name see Agrippa (disambiguation. Marcus Annius Verus was a Roman man who lived in the first and second century ^[26] Also notable are the Greek vases such as Eupronios' Heracles and Antaeus that offer a full perspective on all stylistic schools from the 9th century to the 2nd century. ^[26]

Islamic art

Human-headed winged bulls and reliefs from Khorsabad

The Islamic art collection, the youngest department in the museum, contains works spanning "thirteen centuries and three continents". The Sumerian word lama, which is rendered in Akkadian as lamassu, refers to a beneficient protective female deity Dur-Sharrukin ("Fortress of Sargon" present day Khorsabad, was the Assyrian capital in the time of Sargon II of Assyria. ^[29] These exhibits include more than 5,000 works and 1,000 shards, and show examples of ceramics, glass, metalware, wood, ivory, carpet, textiles, and miniatures. Ceramics and ceramic art in the art world means artwork made out of clay bodies and fired to form a ceramic. Ivory is formed from Dentine and constitutes the bulk of the Teeth and Tusks of animals such as the Elephant, Hippopotamus, ^[30] The collection was originally part of the decorative arts department but became a separate department in 2003. The holdings include the Pyxide d'al-Mughira, an ivory box dating from 968 CE from Andalusia, and the Baptistery of Saint-Louis, an engraved brass basin from the 13th or 14 century Mamluk period that was transferred to the museum from the royal collection in 1793. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area ^[6][29] The collection also contains three pages of the Shahnameh, an epic poem by Ferdowsi written entirely in Persian, and a Syrian metalwork named the Barberini Vase. Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma ((alternative spellings are Shahnama Shahnameh Shahname Shah-Nama, etc Hakīm Abū l-Qāsim Firdawsī Tūsī ( more commonly transliterated as Ferdowsi, (935&ndash1020 was a highly revered Persian Poet. ^[30]

Near Eastern antiquities

This Assyrian human-headed winged bull, dating to the 8th century BCE, was part of Paul-Émile Botta's excavation and one of the earliest pieces in the Louvre collection. Paul-Émile Botta ( December 6, 1802 – March 29, 1870) was French Consul in Mosul (then in the Ottoman Empire, now in

The second youngest Louvre department, which contains the Near Eastern antiquities collection, was created in 1881. Presenting a broad overview of early Near Eastern civilization, it displays works from the region's "first settlements", before the arrival of Islam. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. ^[26][31] The section's development corresponds with the growth of archaeological work in the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Iran, beginning notably with Paul-Émile Botta's 1843 expedition to Khorsabad from which the Louvre's "Assyrian Museuem" was founded after the discovery of Sargon II's palace. See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Paul-Émile Botta ( December 6, 1802 – March 29, 1870) was French Consul in Mosul (then in the Ottoman Empire, now in Dur-Sharrukin ("Fortress of Sargon" present day Khorsabad, was the Assyrian capital in the time of Sargon II of Assyria. Sargon II ( Akkadian Šarru-kinu "legitimate king" reigned 722 – 705 BC was an Assyrian king ^[6] The early holdings were augmented by Claude Schafeffer's excavations in Ras-Shamra and Andre Parrot's work in Mari, Syria. Ugarit ( Ugaritic: ʼugrt; Hebrew:; Arabic:) (modern Ras Shamra رأس شمرة ("top/head/cape of the wild Fennel Mari (modern Tell Hariri, Syria) was an ancient Sumerian and Amorite city located 11 kilometers north-west of the modern town of ^[26]

The holdings representing the Mesopotamian region of Sumer and the city of Akkad are particularly deep. Sumer ( Sumerian: sux-Latn [[Ki (earth ki]]-[[EN (cuneiform en]]-'''ĝir15''', Akkadian: Šumeru; possibly Biblical Shinar The area is illuminated with monuments like the Prince of Lagash's Stele of the Vultures from 2,450 BCE and the stele erected under Naram-Suen, King of Akkad, to celebrate a victory over barbarians in the Zagros Mountains. A stele (from Greek:, stēlē, ˈstiːli plural stelae,, stēlai, ˈstiːlaɪ also found Latinised singular stela The Zagros Mountains (جبال زاجروس (رشته كوههاى زاگرس ( Sorani Kurdish: Zagros - زاگرۆس make up Iran 's and Iraq 's One of the most renowned pieces is the Code of Hammurabi, discovered in 1901. The Code of Hammurabi ( Codex Hammurabi) is the best-preserved ancient Law code, created ca The 2. 25-metre (7. 38 ft) basalt stele displays Babylonian Law, in order that no man could plead ignorance. Basalt (bəˈsɔːlt ˈbeisɔːlt ˈbæsɔːlt is a common Extrusive Volcanic rock. A stele (from Greek:, stēlē, ˈstiːli plural stelae,, stēlai, ˈstiːlaɪ also found Latinised singular stela Archaeological material for the study of Babylonian law is singularly extensive ^[26][31]

Paintings

The paintings department currently comprises more than 6,000 works from the 13th century through 1848, with significant numbers of French paintings, more than 1,200 Northern European pieces, and a notable Italian collection. Sculpture Egyptian sculpture The Seated Scribe; Greek sculpture Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace ^[6] Although not the largest in the world, the holdings are perhaps the "most complete" collection of Western pictorial art. ^[26] The 12 curators of the paintings department oversee the arrangement and display of the collection, which predates the Louvre as a museum. The use of the museum structure as a depository for painted works began with François I, who envisioned a collection, named the Cabinet of Pictures, that would rival those in Italy. Francis I (September 12 1494 &ndash March 31 1547 was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547 Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest ^[26] To achieve this, the king acquired works from Italian masters such as Raphael and Michelangelo and asked Leonardo Da Vinci to attend to his court. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer ^[32]

After the French Revolution, these works formed the nucleus of the nascent Louvre. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an The collection continued to grow throughout the years of the First French Empire during Napoleon's European Wars. The Empire of the French (1804-1814 also known as the Empire of France, Greater French Empire, First French Empire, French Empire, or Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. When the d'Orsay train station was converted into the Musée d'Orsay in 1986, the painting collection was split, and the pieces completed after the 1848 Revolution were moved to the newly formed museum. The Musée d'Orsay is a Museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine, housed in the former railway station the Gare The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout the European French works and art from Northern Europe are in the Richelieu wing and Cour Carrée, while Spanish and Italian paintings are on the first floor of the Denon wing. ^[32]

The Coronation of Napoleon (1806) by Jacques-Louis David. Jacques-Louis David (August 30 1748 &ndash December 29 1825 was a highly influential French painter in the Neoclassical style considered to be David was permitted to attend the coronation and executed the painting for 24,000 francs.

Nearly two-thirds of the works are drawn from the French style, and the sheer size makes selecting standouts difficult. Particularly exemplifying the French School are the "grandiose" Avignon Pieta of Enguerrand Quarton; Jean Fouquet's King Jean le Bon, the first known French easel painting; Hyacinthe Rigaud's Louis XIV; Jacques-Louis David's The Coronation of Napoleon; and Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, commemorating the July Revolution. Enguerrand Quarton or Charonton (c 1410 - c 1466 was a French painter and manuscript illuminator whose few surviving works are among the first Jean Fouquet or Jehan Fouquet (1420 - 1481 was the most important French painter of the 15th century a master of both panel painting and manuscript Hyacinthe Rigaud ( Hiacint Riagau) ( July 20, 1659 – December 27, 1743) was a French painter of Catalan origin Jacques-Louis David (August 30 1748 &ndash December 29 1825 was a highly influential French painter in the Neoclassical style considered to be Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (26 April 1798 &ndash 13 August 1863 was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of Liberty Leading the People (La Liberté guidant le peuple is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830 which toppled The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution, saw the overthrow of King Charles X, the French ^[26][6] Northern European notables include Johannes Vermeer's The Lacemaker and The Astronmer; Caspar David Friedrich's Tree of Crows; and Rembrandt's The Supper at Emmaus, Bathsheba at Her Bath; and The Slaughtered Ox. Johannes or Jan Vermeer (baptized in Delft with the name Joannis on October 31 1632, and buried in the same city under the name Jan Caspar David Friedrich ( September 5, 1774 &ndash May 7, 1840) was a landscape painter of the nineteenth-century German Romantic Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15 1606 &ndash October 4 1669 was a Dutch painter and etcher. Bathsheba at Her Bath is an Oil painting of Bathsheba by Rembrandt from 1654. The Italianate paintings, some drawn from Francois I's collection, include Andrea Mantegna's Calvary and Saint Sebastian; Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Virgin of the Rocks; and Caravaggio's The Fortune Teller and Death of the Virgin. Andrea Mantegna (c 1431 &ndash September 13, 1506) was an Italian Renaissance artist a student of Roman Archeology, and son in law of Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda) is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a Poplar panel by The Virgin of the Rocks (sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks) is the usual title used for Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, usually just known as Caravaggio, (28 September 1571 – 18 July 1610 was an Italian Artist active in Rome The Death of the Virgin (1606 is a painting completed by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio. ^[6]

Prints and drawings

The prints and drawings collection is dedicated to the museum's compilation of works upon a paper medium and numbers more than 100,000 items. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging ^[6] Originally, the majority of pieces came from the 8,600 works held in Royal Collection, the Cabinet du Roi, and were augmented through state appropriation, purchases such as the 1,200 works from Fillipo Baldinucci's collection in 1806, and donations. ^[6][33] As with the paintings department, the collection also grew from military campaigns during Napoleon's reign. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. ^[33] The first showing of the collection occurred on 5 August 1797, when the department was opened for public viewing. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[26] The large collection is now organized into three sections, the core Cabinet du Roi with new additions; a grouping of 14,000 royal engraved-copper stamps for printing; and the donations of Edmond de Rothschild, which include 40,000 prints, 3,000 drawings, and 5,000 illustrated books. Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild ( August 19, 1845 – November 2, 1934) was a French member of the Rothschild banking The vast holdings are now displayed in the Pavillon de Flore, but because of the fragility of the paper medium and the works' sensitivity to light, only a small portion are displayed at one time. The Pavillon de Flore is a section of the Palais du Louvre in Paris, France. ^[26][34]

Sculptures

Tomb of Philippe Pot, governor of Burgundy under Louis XI, by Antoine le Moiturier

The sculptures department contains work created before 1850 that does not belong in the Etruscan, Greek, and Roman department. Burgundy (Bourgogne Burgund is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland, inhabited in turn by Celts ( Gauls) Louis XI ( July 3, 1423 – August 30, 1483) called the Prudent (le Prudent and the Universal Spider ( Middle ^[35] The Louvre has been a repository of sculpted material since its time as a palace; however, since only ancient architecture was considered suitable for study, the first display of medieval, Renaissance, and modern works did not occur until 1824 except for Michelangelo's Dying Slave and Rebellious Slave. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni Two biographies were published of him during his lifetime One of them by Giorgio Vasari, proposed that he was the pinnacle of all The Dying Slave is a sculpture by the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. ^[6] Initially, the collection was relatively small, with about 100 works, because of the government's focus on Versaille. Versailles (vɛʀsaj in French) formerly de facto capital of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important It remained so until 1847, when Léon Laborde was given control of the department. Laborde developed the medieval section and purchased the first such statues and sculpture in the collection, King Childebert and stanga door, respectively. Childebert I ( Rheims, c496 &ndash 13 December 558) was the Frankish king of Paris, a Merovingian dynast one of the four ^[6] Initially, the collection was part of the department of antiquities but was given autonomy in 1871 under Louis Courajod, a director who organized a wider representation of French works. ^[35][6] In 1986 all works from after 1850 were relocated to the new Musée d'Orsay. The Musée d'Orsay is a Museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine, housed in the former railway station the Gare As part of the Grand Louvre project, the sculpture department was separated into two exhibition spaces; the French collection is displayed in the Richelieu wing, while foreign works are located throughout the Denon wing. ^[35]

The sculpture collection's comprehensive overview of French sculpture includes Romanesque works such as the 11th century Daniel in the Lions' Den and the 12th century Virgin of Auvergne. In the 16th century, French sculpture grew more delicate and restrained because of the Renaissance influence, as can be seen Jean Goujon's bas-reliefs, and Germain Pilon's Descent from the Cross and Resurrection of Christ. Jean Goujon ( Normandy ? c 1510 &ndash Bologna after 1572) French sculptor and Architect, is one of the major figures Germain Pilon (c 1537 Paris - 1590 Paris) was one of the most important sculptors of the French Renaissance. The 17th and18th centuries are represented by Étienne Maurice Falconet's Woman Bathing and Amour menaçant; and François Anguier's obelisks. Étienne Maurice Falconet (1716 - 1791 is counted among the first rank of French Rococo sculptors, whose patron was Mme de Pompadour. The brothers François Anguier (c1604&mdash1669 and Michel Anguier (1612&mdash July 11, 1686) were French sculptors, natives of Eu The neoclassical period highlights include Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss (1787), one of the Louvre's most famous works and one that demonstrates the period's emphasis on emotion and love. Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and Antonio Canova 's Statue Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, first commissioned in 1787 exemplifies the Neoclassical obsession with love and ^[26][6]

Controversies

The Louvre has been involved in many controversies, notably those surrounding the architectural additions completed during the Grand Louvre project and the restitution of cultural property. Regarding the latter, debate surrounds the artworks and other cultural property seized by the occupying forces of the Second World War. After the end of the war, more than 60,000 articles were returned to France. Of those, nearly 2,000 objects that did not have clear ownership, many claimed by Israelis and Jews, were retained by French museums, including the Louvre. In 1997, Prime Minister Alain Juppé set up the Mattéoli Commission, named after concentration camp survivor Jean Mattéoli, to investigate, and "according to the government the Louvre continues to hold 678 pieces of artwork. Alain Marie Juppé (born 15 August 1945 is a French right-wing politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people commonly in large groups without trial Jean Mattéoli (b 20 December 1922 in Montchanin, Saône-et-Loire, d "^[36] Additionally, discussion continues over the Italian and Northern European pieces acquired by the French military during the course of Napoleon's campaigns as well as antiquities held by the Louvre that were taken during excavations, particularly in Egypt and the Near East. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. The Louvre administration has argued in favor of retaining these items despite requests by the source nations for their return, and it participates in arbitration sessions held via UNESCO's Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to Its Countries of Origin. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 ^[37]

Satellite museums

Lens

Main article: Louvre-Lens

To relieve the crowded Paris Louvre, increase total museum visits, and improve the economy of the industrial north, French officials decided in 2004 to build a satellite museum on the site of an abandoned coal pit in the former mining town of Lens. The Louvre-Lens is a new museum due to open in 2010 in the industrial French city of Lens, Pas-de-Calais. ^[38] Six cities were considered for the project: Amiens, Arras, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Lens, and Valenciennes. Amiens (amjɛ̃ is a city and commune in northern France, 120 km north of Paris. Arras (Atrecht is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. Boulogne-sur-Mer ( Bonen in Dutch is a City in Northern France. Calais (kaˈlɛ in English often kæˈleɪ traditional English pronunciation /ˈkælɨs/ Kales is a town in northern France. Lens is a commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département. Valenciennes (Old Dutch: Valencijn, Latin: Valentianae) is a Town and commune in northern France in the In 2004, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin chose Lens, Pas-de-Calais, to be the site of the new building, to be called Le Louvre-Lens. Jean-Pierre Raffarin (born 3 August 1948 is a French conservative Politician and senator for Vienne. Lens is a commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département. Museum officials predicted that the new building, capable of receiving about 600 works of art, would attract as many as 500,000 visitors a year when it opened in 2009. ^[38] The architectural team of Sanaa of Tokyo, under the direction of Ryue Nishizawa and Kazuyo Sejima, was awarded the project. ^[39]

Abu Dhabi

Main article: Louvre Abu Dhabi

In March 2007, the Louvre announced that a Louvre museum would be completed by 2012 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a planned Museum, to be located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. A 30-year agreement, signed by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres and Sheik Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, will establish a Louvre museum in downtown Abu Dhabi in exchange for €832,000 (US$1. Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres (born March 13, 1954 in Neuilly-sur-Seine) often known as RDDV, is a French politician France 's 3 billion). The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel and the engineering firm of Buro Happold, will occupy 24,000 square metres (260,000 sq ft) covered by a roof shaped like a flying saucer. Jean Nouvel (born 12 August 1945) is a French Architect. Nouvel studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was a founding Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing Engineering consultancy Design, planning project management and consulting services for all aspects of France has agreed to rotate between 200 and 300 artworks through the Louvre Abu Dhabi during a 10-year period, to provide management expertise, and to provide four temporary exhibitions a year for 15 years. The art will come from multiple French museums, including the Louvre, the Georges Pompidou Centre, the Musée d'Orsay, Versailles, the Musée Guimet, the Musée Rodin, and the Musée du Quai Branly. Centre Georges Pompidou (constructed 1971–1977 and known as the Pompidou Centre in English) is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement The Musée d'Orsay is a Museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine, housed in the former railway station the Gare The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal Château in Versailles, in France 's Île-de-France region The Guimet Museum (French Musée national des Arts asiatiques-Guimet or Musée Guimet) is a museum of Asian art located at 6 place d'Iéna in the The Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is a museum that was opened in 1919 in the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds The Musée du quai Branly, known in English as the Quai Branly Museum, nicknamed MQB, is a museum in Paris, France that features indigenous ^[40]

Location and access

A map of the Louvre in the Ier arrondissement or Paris. Metro Lines serving the area are shown, with stations colored red. Note that the RER is not shown. The RER ( R éseau E xpress R égional, ɛʀøɛʀ "Regional Express Network" is a Rapid transit system in France serving Landmarks are in black.

The museum lies in the heavily-visited centre of Paris on the Right Bank. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The neighborhood, known as the Ier arrondissement, is home to the destroyed Palais des Tuileries and the Tuileries Gardens. The Palais des Tuileries was a royal Palace in Paris. It stood on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed These gardens, created in 1564 by Catherine de Medici and reorganized in 1664 by André Le Nôtre, house the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, a contemporary art museum that was used to store Jewish cultural property from 1940 to 1944. Catherine de' Medici (April 13 1519 &ndash January 5 1589 was born in Florence, Italy as Caterina Maria Romula di Lorenzo de' Medici. André Le Nôtre ( March 12, 1613 &ndash September 15 1700) was a Landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV The Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume is a Museum of Contemporary art in the north-west corner of the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ ^[41]

The Pavillon de Flore and Denon Wing, parallel to the Seine River, are at 36 Quai du Louvre. The Pavillon de Flore is a section of the Palais du Louvre in Paris, France. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie The Quai du Louvre is by the River Seine where the Louvre is located in Paris, France. From the Left Bank the museum is across the Pont du Carrousel or the Pont des Arts. The Pont du Carrousel has been one of the best-loved bridges of Paris; it spans the Seine between the Quai des Tuileries and the Quai Voltaire The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian Bridge in Paris which crosses the Seine River The museum is bounded on the north by Napoleon's Rue de Rivoli and Cardinal Richelieu's former residence, the Palais Royal. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Rue de Rivoli is one of the most famous streets of Paris, a commercial street whose shops include the most fashionable names in the world This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. To the east is the Place du Louvre. The Place du Louvre is immediately to the east of the Louvre in Paris, France. ^[41]

The Louvre can be reached by the Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre Métro or the Louvre-Rivoli station. Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre is a station of the Paris Métro. Louvre Rivoli is a station of the Paris Métro. It is near the Louvre and Rue de Rivoli. The stations are named after the nearby Palais Royal, the Louvre, and the Rue de Rivoli.

See also

• List of works in the Louvre
• List of museums in Paris
• Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France
• American Friends of the Louvre
• Musée de la Mode et du Textile

References

External links

• Official Louvre website (English) (Requires Flash)
• Louvre Museum
• Extensive Photo Gallery from The Louvre – Photos of almost all the sculpture, many of the paintings and Objects d'Art
• General views of Le Louvre
• Fullscreen Virtual Tour by Virtualsweden
• Excerpt of Michael T. Cannell's book on I.M. Pei – discusses controversy over Pei's pyramid. Adobe Flash (previously called Shockwave Flash and Macromedia Flash) is a set of Multimedia software created by Macromedia and currently
• Antiquities of the Louvre
• Official École du Louvre website (Requires Flash)
• Photos of Louvre museum
• panoramic views of the entrance pyramid
• Louvre museum: Map, contact, price, opening hours, user reviews, etc.