In continuing our series The Art of Paris, one must include the Louvre. With this impressive and giant museum, the only way I could think of tackling a blog article about it was to create a top 5 must see list. You could spend months inside the museum and still not view every object. So when you go, it is helpful if you do a little research, figure out what you want to see, it’s location, and everything in between is a bonus.
Originally the structure was built as a fortress in the 12th century. Since then, it has had a history of never ending remodeling to meet the needs of various purposes with its latest addition in 2012. It was once a home to Francois I and later to Louis XIV, which he found to be too busy so he built Versailles just outside of town as a retreat or place to get away. The palace was established as a museum in 1793.
Top 5 Experiences in no particular order…
The Flying Carpet Structure of the Islamic Gallery
- The Islamic Galleries “Flying Carpet” – This beautiful addition was complete in September of 2012. Located in an internal courtyard, the roof or flying carpet, does not touch the original facade of the Louvre. It is a beautiful marriage of traditional architecture of the Louvre, and valuing progress with a modern structure. The exhibit space is submerged 40 feet into the ground to provide light sensitive objects a safe viewing space. I am not sure how much time I spent looking at the structure. It was truly stunning.
The Ancient Greek Sculpture, Winged Victory of Samothrace
2. Winged Victory of Samothrace – As I have shared before, sculpture is not a strong suit for me, but the first time I saw the Winged Victory, I gasped. She is perfectly displayed in the museum and I can only imagine what she originally looked like over 2,ooo years ago proclaiming victory of a sea battle and honoring the goddess Nike. Make sure you view her up close and far away, taking her in from as many angles as possible. It is a mystery to me how artists can make stone look like delicate, transparent material flowing in the wind!
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa
3. Mona Lisa and Wedding at Cana (Denon wing, 1st floor, Room 6) – One of the most popular rooms in the Louvre is 17B which houses the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. I cannot imagine there not being a giant crowd around her. Just be patient and you will be able to make it up to the front to see her and snap a picture. In order to preserve the painting, it is behind glass and the crowd is kept quite a few feet away. Honestly, I was shocked by the small size of this famous painting. I am glad I saw it, but the painting that drew me in was The Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese displayed on the opposite wall. It is HUGE! There are so many details, you can gaze at the painting for hours!
Caravaggio’s Death of the Virgin – Courtesy of Wikipedia
4. Caravaggio – I had to include the Caravaggio paintings, well you know, because he is David’s favorite painter. The Louvre has three paintings, which is amazing considering there are approximately 50 in the world. So when we arrived at the museum, we had to high tail it to these paintings first. The paintings are The Death of the Virgin, The Fortune Teller, and Portrait of Alof de Wignacourt. The piece that stood out most to me was The Death of a Virgin. The depth and darkness characterized by Caravaggio was exemplified in this painting as well as the way he liked to push the envelope. This painting was originally rejected because it showed the virgin’s ankles. Scandal!
David’s The Intervention of the Sabine Women – Courtesy of Wikipedia
5. French Nationalistic Paintings – You must visit the French nationalistic paintings! Some highlights are the Coronation of Napoleon and The Intervention of the Sabine Women by Jaques Louis David and Raft of the Medusa by Géricault. They are huge! They are grand! They are gorgeous! While looking for these paintings, you will see other outstanding paintings as well in this area.
Once again, there are so many great pieces of work in this gigantic art museum. While the above list represents our favorite experiences, this is just the beginning. Other notable pieces recommended by friends are Venus de Milo, Cupid and Psyche by Canova and Ingres’ Odalisque.
Purchase tickets for 15 Euros or bypass the ticket line with a Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass. The Louvre is open everyday from 9am-6pm and closed Tuesdays. The Louvre stays open late on Wednesdays and Fridays, closing at 9:45pm. Check their website before you visit because some days there are exceptions and hours could change seasonally. There are even some days the admission fees are waived!
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