The Louvre Museum is considered the largest art museum in the world. It is located in the Louvre Palace in Paris, the capital of France, and is located on the banks of the Seine River. The museum houses a large collection from prehistoric times to the present. The number of exhibited works reaches approximately 35,000 and these works are exhibited in an area of 72,735 square meters. In 2017, with 8.1 million visitors, it became the most visited art museum in the world.
The Glass Pyramid, which was added to its courtyard later, is as famous as the Louvre Museum itself. Designed and built by the Chinese architect Ieoh Ming Pei, this glass pyramid is used as the entrance gate of the museum. A large part of the pyramid serves as the point where visitors step into the museum. The pyramid construction of the Louvre Museum began in 1984 and was completed in 1989.
This pyramid made of glass and steel, reaching a height of 20.6 meters, draws attention with the length of 35 meters on each side of its base. This impressive glass pyramid adds a modern twist to the atmosphere of the Louvre Museum. Although it was initially criticized for creating a modern contrast to the historical atmosphere of the museum, it has now become one of the museum’s most famous works.
History of the Louvre Museum
The building of the Louvre Museum is very important not only for its content, but also for its historical value. This structure was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries by the king of the period II. It was built by Philippe as a castle. However, the city developed rapidly and exceeded the limits of the castle, so in 1546 it was transformed into the official residence of the French kings by order of François I. Today, traces of the castle can still be seen in the basement of the museum.
The Louvre underwent several expansions and finally in 1682, the XIV. With the decision of Louis to move to the Palace of Versailles, although it was a place where the royal collection was exhibited, it became a place without museum status. During this period, the royal collection, including important Greek and Roman artifacts, began to be exhibited here. However, about 10 years later, the schools of literature and sculpture founded in the name of the royal in 1692 moved here and hosted educational activities for 100 years.
The national assembly established during the French Revolution decided to use the Louvre as a museum displaying works of French art and turned the building back into a museum. Since then, the Louvre has been serving as a museum displaying important works of art.
The Louvre Museum was opened on 10 August 1793 with a collection of 537 paintings, mostly belonging to the royal family and churches. However, due to the fact that the building was not built for this purpose, some architectural difficulties were encountered and it was closed between 1796-1801. During the Napoleon Bonaparte period, the contents of the museum were considerably enriched and it was called the Napoleon Museum for a while. However, when it was revealed that the artifacts smuggled from the areas occupied by the French army were obtained unethically, these artifacts were returned to their original owners.
However, in the XVIII. During the reigns of Louis, Charles X and the Second French Empire, the museum continued to grow and 20,000 new works were added to the collection. During the Third French Republic, the number of content increased through purchases and donations. Today, the entire art collection of the museum is divided into eight different categories and continues to be exhibited according to these categories.
Sections of the Louvre Museum
Louvre Museum consists of 3 separate wings and 8 main departments. The Louvre Museum collection, which consists of 8 different sections, is home to more than 380,000 works of art, of which only 35,000 are on display. Sully Wing, which is among these sections, is the oldest wing of the Louvre Museum and welcomes its visitors. The Sully Wing contains important artifacts such as Ancient Greek and Ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Denon Wing is the most crowded wing of the Louvre Museum. In this wing, there is a section where popular paintings are exhibited. Famous paintings such as Mona Lisa, Les Noces De Cana (Wedding in Cana), Venus and Mars, Psyche and Cupid are located in this wing. Due to the popularity of these works, the Denon Wing draws great attention from visitors.
Another wing, the Richelieu Wing, contains Napoleon Bonaparte’s rooms, including curtains, dining tables, and dazzling chandeliers. The Richelieu Wing offers visitors the opportunity to experience the royal atmosphere of the past. Each wing has a different atmosphere, where unique works are displayed and visitors can embark on a journey filled with history, art and beauty.
Important Artifacts Found in the Louvre Museum
The most important works of the world are exhibited in the Louvre Museum. One of the museum’s most famous works is the “Mona Lisa” painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s. This painting is one of the most remarkable pieces of the museum.
Flora, a statue from the Roman Empire period, is known as the goddess of flowers and spring in ancient mythology. This sculpture, which is exhibited in the Louvre Museum, was made with detailed craftsmanship and an aesthetic understanding.
One of the popular works in the Louvre Museum is Veronese’s painting “Wedding at Cana”. In this work, a story from the Bible is told and Hz. Jesus’ first miracle, that is, turning water into wine, is depicted.
The painting “Napoleon’s Coronation Ceremony” painted by Jacques-Louis David between 1805-1807 is one of the most interesting works of the museum. This work is about Napoleon’s coronation at Notre Dame Cathedral. It fascinates the audience with its realistic human figures and large size (6.21 m x 9.79 m).
Another important work in the Louvre Museum is the sculptures named “Two Slaves” made by Michelangelo between 1513 and 1516. These sculptures are among the works that attract the attention of art lovers.
Among the mysterious artifacts in the Louvre Museum is the crusader sarcophagus of Philippe Pot. The realism of the impressive mosaic carrying this sarcophagus and the creepy crusader figures impress the audience.
Other artifacts of the museum include the death statue of St. Innocent. This statue was brought from the tomb of Saint Innocent, who died in Ile de France in 1530.
Among the works worth seeing in the museum is a figure known as the cruel Queen of the Medici. Coming from the Italian Medici Family and 14 years old King of France II. This woman, who was married to Henry, took over the administration after her husband’s death and committed various atrocities and massacres.
Vénus de Milo, one of the most valuable works of ancient Greek sculpture, is exhibited in the Louvre Museum. This statue is thought to represent Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, and is estimated to have been made around 100 BC.
Another artifact in the museum is the statue of the Saint Holding Her Head. This statue depicts the miracle of St. Valerie, the saint of the city of Limoge. When Saint Valerie objected to this decision when the Romans wanted to marry a non-Christian, she was killed by beheading and carried her head in her hand.
The Nike Samothrake Statue, a Hellenistic sculpture, symbolizes victory and movement. The dynamic stance of the statue and its rise with wings are of great expressiveness and artistic value.
The Louvre Museum also houses many ancient Egyptian artifacts. From mummies from the tombs of the pharaohs to temple reliefs and various statues, the many artifacts allow visitors to take a journey through the ancient Egyptian civilization.
