The world famous Louvre Museum annually attracts millions of tourists. The works of the Louvre is a superbly composed collection that allows you to trace the entire history of art. There are undeniable masterpieces here that every person who claims to be educated should know and see at least once in his life.
The base of the Louvre
On August 10, 1793, one of the most important museums in the world, the Louvre, opened its doors for the first time. The idea of creating a public museum with works of art arose after the French Revolution, when it was decided to put the royal values on public display. From the day of the revolution, the national government began to confiscate art from the aristocracy, which marked the beginning of the museum's collection. For several years, a large number of valuables were collected, for their exposition a spacious building was needed, which became the old castle.
Louvre building
The works of the Louvre required a lot of space, and the eyes of the organizers of the museum turned to a large empty palace in the middle of Paris. This building has a long history. The heart of the Louvre is the Great Tower, built back in 1190. Its purpose was purely utilitarian - from the height, the approaching Vikings were monitored. In 1317, Charles the Fifth makes the castle his residence, the treasury of Paris also moves here. Over the years of operation, the old tower dilapidated and was demolished, especially since the castle lost its defensive function and became a royal dwelling. Francis the First in 1546 entrusted this work to Pierre Lescaut. Before him was the task of rebuilding the fortress, making it a real palace. The designer proposes to build a square courtyard, the three sides of which are decorated with luxurious chambers, and the fourth - an open exit to the city center. During the life of the architect, only the western wing, which bears his name today, managed to finish the construction. His project came to life by 1555 and became a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. in 1594, Henry the Fourth decided that the Louvre should be connected to the Tuileries Palace. In the years 1655-1670, Louis Prevost expands the palace and increases it four times. Under Louis the Fourteenth, the eastern facade is formed by a colonnade, it attracts many famous European architects, but in 1682 it cools down to the project and transfers the residence to Versailles. For almost a hundred years, the Louvre has been empty, dilapidated, and even the ideas of its demolition appear. Louis the Fifteenth thought to create a museum in the palace; his idea was realized after the revolution.
Under Napoleon the First, the northern facade was rebuilt, and in 1853 the entire Louvre complex was completed. In 1891, the appearance of the palace that we see today has developed. The last significant architectural reconstruction took place in 1989, when a glass pyramid was built in the courtyard by the American architect Yo Ming Pei - the main entrance to the museum.
Louvre collections: history and principles of creation
The first works of the Louvre began to be collected under Louis the Fourteenth, who, in the spirit of his time, began to create an art collection. The collection was based on paintings by Italian artists bought by Francis the First. Louis the Fourteenth buys a large collection of paintings (200 canvases) from the banker Zhabakh. The king is constantly looking for an opportunity to replenish his meeting. He increased the fund of the future museum to 2500 paintings, acquired various art objects. After the revolution, the museum collection begins to replenish due to confiscated values. The Fund of the Museum of Sculpture is transferred to the Louvre. During the Napoleonic conquests, the funds of the Louvre are actively replenished by trophies, due to archaeological excavations in Egypt and the East. Also, the museum management, with its own funds, is engaged in the selection and purchase of art. The collection is not formed spontaneously, the choice of works is determined by artistic value, only masterpieces fall into the Louvre. Many significant collectors bequeath their collections to the Louvre. So, in 1936 the museum accepted as a gift a collection of graphics by Baron Edmond Rothschild in the amount of more than 45 thousand exhibits. Much attention is also paid to the formation of a collection of French national art. Today in the Louvre there are about 400 exhibits, and the collection continues to be formed. In connection with the growth of funds in the late 20th century, an active redistribution of works of art between museums in France begins. The Louvre Museum limited the collection to the date of 1848, and all later canvases dispersed to other collections.
Today, the museum’s collection is conditionally divided into groups: the art of the Ancient East, Ancient Egypt, the ancient world, Islamic art, painting, graphics, decorative and applied art.
Ancient World Art
Most of the museum's funds are objects of ancient art. The works of the Louvre in the Department of Ancient Art are represented by several regions. A huge part of the collection consists of objects found during excavations in Egypt, this is the famous figure of Ramses the Second, sculptures "Sitting Cat", sphinxes, sarcophagi, ceramics, jewelry and much more, including wall paintings, bas-reliefs, interior elements. The art of the Ancient East is represented by collections of art objects from the cultures of Mesopotamia, Iran, and the Mediterranean.
Masterpieces of antique sculpture
The basis of the sculpture collection was the acquisition of Louis the Fourteenth. Today, the museum’s collection contains true masterpieces, such as “Venus de Milo” - a sculpture that attracts a lot of visitors. Often, in order to see this masterpiece, tourists come to the Louvre. Another significant work of antiquity is the sculpture "Nika of Samothrace", which was found and brought to Paris by the French archaeologist Champoiseau. The Roman period is represented by a huge number of statues, bas-reliefs, pedestals. The courtyard of ancient sculpture in the Louvre, bathed in the sun through a glass roof, allows you to plunge into the world of harmony and perfection.
Legacy of Leonardo da Vinci
Of particular interest to tourists and art lovers is the painting "Mona Lisa." Many people come to the museum solely to see her mysterious smile. But besides this, the Louvre can be proud of four more works of the great master. No less significant, but slightly less famous is the work "Madonna in the Rocks." This work, created in the 80s of the 15th century, has been in the royal collection since 1625. It is distinguished by an excellently prescribed landscape behind the characters' backs; here the author tries those tricks that later will be fully applied when writing "The Mona Lisa". “Madonna in the Rocks” is the first version of the work on this plot, the second version is in the London Museum. Also, the Louvre is rightfully proud of such works as "Portrait of a Young Woman", "Madonna and Child and St. Anna "and" John the Baptist.
Masterpieces of world classics
The Louvre is one of the greatest museums in the world, and its glory, of course, is made up of masterpieces of a planetary scale. These include, first of all, “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci, but also here you can see the epoch-making work of Theodore Gericault “The Raft of Medusa”, several works of Jacques David, in particular, “The Coronation of Napoleon”. The rare work of I. Bosch “The Ship of Fools” is also the pearl of the museum collection. The Louvre is the happy owner of paintings by S. Botticelli, Raphael Santi, H. Memling, A. Durer and many other authors. In the sculpture department, two works by Michelangelo are undoubted hits: “The Dying Slave” and “The Risen Slave”.
French art
The collection of national art in the Louvre represents all periods and types of creativity. The collection has many masterpieces, for example, the picture of Eugene Delacroix “Freedom leading the people”. She accurately conveys the mood that reigned in the country during the Revolution. She became a symbol of the new art and Republic. The country's plastic art is represented, among other things, by the figure of a Greek athlete in marble. “Milon of Croton with a Lion” is a significant work of the French sculptor Pierre Puget in the style of ancient masters. The work is amazing expressiveness and power of emotions. "Milon of Croton with a Lion" shows a scene of incredible human suffering, the strength of an athlete and his spirit.
Graphic arts
In the graphic collection of the Louvre there are more than 130 thousand exhibits. Mostly tourists do not reach these halls; here true connoisseurs of beauty go. Indeed, the collection of the Louvre has many books, drawings, prints of the best authors of the world. Including drawings by H. Rembrant, J. Chardin, E. Delacroix.
Arts and crafts
A special pride of the museum is the collection of arts and crafts. Decoration items, jewelry, costumes, utensils from different eras are presented in several halls of the Louvre. First of all, the apartments of Napoleon the Third attract attention. Here is the full furnishings and decoration of the main hall in the style of Louis the Fourteenth and Fifteenth. Here you can see luxurious furniture, dishes, home decoration. But also the museum owns excellent samples of weapons and jewelry from the time of the Restoration and rule of Napoleon the First. Of great interest is the collection of utensils, decor and jewelry from the Gothic, Baroque, Italian and French Renaissance. The furniture collection in the Louvre is one of the best in the world.
What to watch
A few months are not enough to see all the exhibits of the Louvre, and if you look carefully, then a few years. But, when there is no way to devote so much time to the museum, you need to think through the route and answer the question: what can not be missed? There is a developed tour of the Louvre, which will allow you to see the most important thing. For hurrying tourists in the museum, the main masterpieces are placed in the first halls at the entrance, and there are special signs so as not to get lost. But some works worthy of attention are placed in the appropriate sections, for example, Eugene Delacroix's painting “Freedom Leading the People” is in the collection of French art. Therefore, you need to navigate the museum scheme and find the right room. Schemes are issued at the entrance for free in several languages, including Russian.
In order not to get lost in the vast space and see the most important thing, you can use the special list of the main masterpieces, which include the statue “Venus of Milos”, the sculpture of antiquity - “Nika of Samothrace”, the paintings “Big Odalisk” by J. Ingres and the “Lacemaker” I. Vermeer, the work of Leonardo da Vinci, a statue of Ramses the Second.