The Louvre Museum is the greatest collection of priceless works of art. In terms of size and significance of exhibits, it competes with only a few equally famous collections of rarities: the Hermitage, the British and Cairo museums. The Louvre Museum in Paris is one of the most visited attractions. Like the Eiffel Tower, this museum is a symbol of the capital of France.
A look into the past
The Louvre Museum has a long and interesting history. Those who were fond of the novels of Alexander Dumas know that in them he is constantly mentioned, but as a palace. Indeed, for many years the Louvre was the residence of the French kings.
It was founded in the 12th century in 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 passed, the Louvre, whose photo can be seen below, began to be used as the royal palace. The remains of the ancient walls can still be seen in the museum.
In the XVI 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 hundred years, the area of the Louvre has quadrupled. In 1871, during the revolutionary events, the Tuileries Palace was burned down by the rebel Parisians. The surviving pavilions are now part of the museum complex.
At the end of the XVII century, Louis XIV suddenly lost interest in the palace and decided to build for himself a new magnificent suburban residence - Versailles. The Louvre is virtually abandoned, and from that moment there are proposals to turn it into a museum. In the meantime, administrative institutions and artists' workshops were located in it. For the museum collection, they suggested using the Large Gallery, having previously built a glazed ceiling in it for good lighting of exhibits.
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Under King Louis XV of France, a project was developed to transform the Louvre and establish a museum in it. For the first time its doors opened to visitors in 1793, during the period of the French Revolution. Ordinary Parisians were able to see the richest collections of objects of art 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 appearance to the first emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte.
A brilliant politician, he understood the whole value of art and how it can affect the masses. During the reign of Napoleon, the Louvre Museum was named after him. 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 procession of the armies of the French emperor in Europe was accompanied by the looting of the cultural values of the defeated countries. Selected works of art replenished the Louvre collection. 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) acquires the usual features.
The administrative premises that were in the Louvre were gradually squeezed out of it. By the 1980s, the museum had at its disposal the entire huge complex of buildings. Then began the last to date, the process of reconstruction of the territory.
Pyramid - adored or unloved?
The Louvre Museum in Paris has always been famous for its innovative approach and innovative ideas. In 1985, work began on the construction of a new main entrance to the building. They were led by the architect Yo Ming Pei, according to the project of which visitors were supposed to enter the Louvre through a huge glass pyramid located in the courtyard of Napoleon. Three small pyramids located nearby serve as portholes.
At first, the project was met with hostility by the Parisians and was sharply criticized. After the construction of the pyramid was completed, it turned out that it unexpectedly organically joined the museum complex and gave it a finished, elegant, but at the same time avant-garde look.
The prototype of the building (the Cheops pyramid) 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 significance, and his trophies brought from Egypt became the basis for one of the best collections.
Now the famous pyramid of the Louvre has become another symbol of France, and debates about its relevance have not subsided to this day. Someone believes that she insults the museum with her avant-garde and unusualness, but many Frenchmen liked the combination of the new and the old. The opinion of tourists is unambiguous - the pyramid causes them delight. 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 art connoisseurs. They collected 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 the “Gioconda” by da Vinci, were included in the Louvre collection thanks to Francis I. Some of the exhibits are paintings by famous artists acquired by Louis XIV.
The museum received a huge number of valuable items during the years of the war of conquest of Napoleonic France. This is an 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 be found in special repositories and are available for viewing for a short period. Therefore, the Louvre often organizes special exhibitions at which rare art objects are not available for constant viewing. Reviews of tourists about them are always the most enthusiastic.
Exhibits: 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, it takes 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 pieces of art stored in it:
1. "Mona Lisa" - a masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci. This is a picture that hides more than one secret. For those who see it for the first time, the small size of the canvas will be a surprise.
2. The sculptures of the Louvre are a real treasury of the masters of antiquity. But among them there is an unsurpassed masterpiece - Venus of Milos. It was found in 1820 on the Turkish island of Milos (hence its name) and was hardly transported to France. The Turkish government later regretted that it allowed to buy the statue.
3. Nika of Samothrace - 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 of Jacques-Louis David - the beloved artist of the first emperor of France - “The Coronation of Napoleon” is worth it to devote time to it. The painting canvas is large and striking in its scale.
Where is the museum located
It is located in the very center of Paris, in its historical part. Rivoli street 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 significant tourist places. This means long lines in which you can lose a few hours. They are caused by strict security measures: checking bags by guards, metal detector frames. Tickets to the Louvre can be bought at the box office of the museum or in advance. The second option is much more convenient, because it allows you to go without a queue. Tickets purchased in advance have an unlimited duration, which allows you to choose any convenient day for visiting the museum. For those under the age of 18, admission is free.
