Louvre Museum, the world’s largest art collection
The Louvre Museum boasts the largest art collection in the world and draws in a staggering number of visitors, with over 8.6 million annually, averaging around 30,000 visitors per day!
While the splendid collection of books amassed by King Charles V was unfortunately dispersed over the centuries, François I took decisive action by commissioning renowned painters of the Renaissance to contribute to a new collection. This marked the beginning of the Louvre’s transformation into a cultural powerhouse.
Even in the 17th century, exhibitions of paintings and sculptures were open to the public, laying the groundwork for the museum’s future role as a beacon of art appreciation. Thankfully, the Louvre Palace was not demolished but repurposed as a museum during the French Revolution, ensuring its preservation and providing subsequent rulers such as Napoleon I and Napoleon III with the opportunity to further expand and enrich its collections.
Pei’s Pyramid, entrance to the Louvre Museum
Pei’s Pyramid, a striking architectural contemporary marvel, is situated in the Cour Napoléon and serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum.
Commissioned by the late François Mitterrand, the renowned architect I.M.Pei brought this iconic structure to fruition, completing its construction in 1989.
Surrounded by three smaller pyramids, the 21-meter-high glass pyramid serves as a captivating focal point, with its facade adorned by 700 diamond-shaped glass panes meticulously arranged on a stainless-steel frame, creating a mesmerizing interplay of light and reflection.
Venturing inside, you encounter the Pyramide Inversée, an ingenious counterpart to the central pyramid. Suspended 1.4 meters above ground, its apex points downward to a 1-meter-high marble pyramid, adding an unconventional touch to the museum’s entrance.
Come nightfall, the Louvre Pyramid, is one of the many Parisian monuments illuminated at night.
Vieux Louvre
A first corridor, starting in the entrance lobby, leads to the ancient vestiges of the medieval Louvre Fortress, known as the Vieux Louvre.
The embankments of remnants of the drawbridge and the sturdy foundations of the Vieux Louvre, are well visible as the corridor skirts them.
The imposing vestiges of the Grosse Tour, that soared to a height of 31 meters, evokes the grandeur of Charles V’s royal library, which it once housed.
A detailed model of the medieval fortress offers insight into the layout of the structure that François I demolished in 1546, clearing the way for the new Louvre.
The Vieux Louvre section provides also access to the museum’s extensive exhibition galleries.
Louvre Museum, a brief overview
Following a reorganization in 1981, the Louvre Museum underwent a transformation, solidifying its position as the custodian of the world’s largest art collections. The museum is divided into eight departments, each dedicated to specific artistic disciplines:
- Paintings: Showcases renowned masterpieces such as the Raft of the Medusa, Wedding at Cana, and the iconic Mona Lisa.
- Prints and Drawings: Displays works on paper in the Pavillon de Flore: 40,000 prints, 3,000 drawings, and 5,000 illustrated books.
- Sculptures: Includes works such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, Marly Horses, and the Three Graces.
- Decorative Arts: Collections from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century.
- Egyptian Antiquities: Houses treasures spanning over 4,500 years, this department featured notable artifacts such as the Seated Scribe, sarcophagi, mummies, and more.
- Near Eastern Antiquities: Exhibits cultural artifacts such as the Archers Frieze and Assyrian bas-reliefs, and provides insights into the ancient civilizations of the East.
- Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities: From the Venus de Milo to fragments of the Parthenon of Athens, this department showcases the rich artistic heritage of classical civilizations, alongside art objects like jewelry and furniture.
- Islamic Art: See below
In total, the Louvre Museum displays over 400,000 exhibits across its 370 halls, organized along three main galleries:
- The Sully Wing, located in the Square Court, offer an immersive experience in art history.
- The Denon Gallery, situated along the Waterside Gallery, provides an insight of various artistic epochs and styles.
- The Richelieu Wing, bordering Rue de Rivoli, once housed the Ministry of Finance until its conversion into a space for exhibiting exquisite artworks and artifacts.
The Louvre Museum’s latest department – Islamic Art Gallery in Aile Visconti
The Aile Visconti was planned in 2003 at the initiative of president Jacques Chirac.
It was inaugurated on September 22, 2012.
This new wing boasts a remarkable collection, unrivaled in the Western world, comprising approximately 18,000 objects that span centuries and continents.
Among its treasures are Syrian and Egyptian jewelry, intricately carved ivories, exquisite miniatures, and Ottoman ceramics from the 16th and 17th centuries, exceptional carpets and unique textiles, including the Shroud of St. Josse.
The wing also exhibits nearly 4,000 pieces generously granted by the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Museum of Fashion and Textile.
This diverse array of artifacts offers a comprehensive glimpse into Islamic civilization, spanning from Spain to India and encompassing a timeline from the 7th to the 19th century.
Construction of the ‘Flying Carpet’
However, the creation of the new Islamic Art department posed a significant challenge due to the limited available space within the Louvre Museum’s already saturated exhibition halls.
The solution lay in utilizing the Cour Visconti, one of the last remaining areas ripe for development within the museum’s confines.
The architects Rudy Ricciotti and Mario Bellini planned the ambitious project which started in 2009 with the extensive excavation, with thousands of cubic meters of earth removed to lower the courtyard’s level.
As the excavation delved deeper, the museum’s original foundations, situated 2.5 meters beneath the surface, underwent reinforcement to ensure structural integrity. Specialized pumps were installed to manage the water table at a depth of 8 meters, facilitating the pouring of a waterproof concrete screed to stabilize the excavation’s base.
The cavity thus obtained allowed the creation of two underground floors partly lit by means of mezzanines, and a ground floor at ground level. A glass and metal frame was rooted in the historic facades overlooking the Cour Visconti to preserve their visibility.
The ambitious construction project came with a price tag totaling €100 million, a testament to its scale and complexity. While the French State generously funded 30% of the project, additional support came from various sources, including Total and Lafarge groups which contributed €10 million towards the endeavor.
Prince al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family, made a substantial contribution of €17 million through his foundation.
Further support came from esteemed dignitaries and nations, each contributing to the realization of this monumental undertaking. King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad on behalf of the State of Kuwait, Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the people of Oman, as well as the Republic of Azerbaijan, all played pivotal roles in providing the remaining funds needed to bring the Flying Carpet to life.
Directions: 1st District
Metro: Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre on Lines 1, 7
Coordinates: Lat 48.860997 – Long 2.336038
