PARIS - Unique Galleries at the Louvre

 In a building that started life as a palace, much of the grandeur remains, making it a perfect place to showcase art.



A Louvre Gallery with overhanging Balcony by DG Hudson

In the old days (1800s), artists crowded the Louvre galleries to study art. They brought their easels and were observed by the visitors along with the masterpieces they studied. This is a long tradition in art schools and art studios. Go and study the masters, students are told. Students can still be seen performing this ritual.


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Watch for the Crowds

One reason not to see the Louvre Museum in a large tour group is shown below. You can't get close enough to appreciate the art or get photographs. These crowds of anywhere from 25-50 clog the space around the art. We waited until the throngs passed on, and fortunately, the Louvre isn't as crowded in late September. There are maps, so you can't get lost. Discovering the Louvre and its treasures can be an adventure.


Winged Victory, the Nike of Samothrace, Louvre Museum, Paris by DG Hudson

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Esthetically Pleasing

Light, space and design define this example of one gallery with paintings of various sizes on the walls. The fantastic Raft of the Medusa is the large painting on the left side. The variety in canvas measurements varies from wall size to small size. Don't try to rush through, or you may get a case of art overload. . .




A long and lush Louvre gallery; Raft of the Medusa on the left, by DG Hudson

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Gilt embellishment

In several of the galleries, the ceilings are decorated with gilt plasterwork and inlaid paintings so don't forget to look up.






Louvre Museum Gallery with Gilt Ceiling by DG Hudson

 

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If you haven't been to the Louvre, do you ever hope to see it? (Art museums don't appeal to everyone.) Have you enjoyed this glimpse into the palace? (It's a welcoming place.)

Please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and I'll respond. Thanks for dropping by!

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References:

The Nike of Samothrace (winged Victory), marble, circa 190 BC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa - Details of the painting The Raft of the Medusa, based on a real life event

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_Palace The Louvre Palace history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre  - Louvre Museum

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L = Louvre Museum - A to Z Blog Challenge

Musée du Louvre

The Louvre and the Glass Pyramid, Paris - by Green Eye



 
The Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre, is one of the world's largest museums and a historic monument. It's a landmark of Old Paris, located in the 1st arrondissement, with one side facing the rue de Rivoli. 


Entry into the Louvre is through the Glass Pyramid, located in the inner courtyard.  I expected the effect of the old (the Louvre building) and the new (the pyramids) to be jarring.  Instead, the transparency allows for the Louvre building to be seen or reflected by the pyramid.  Commissioned by President Francois Mitterrand, the large pyramid was completed in 1989 by I. M. Pei. 



Louvre Interior Gallery, Antiquities - by DG Hudson



It's difficult to indicate the size of this palace and its galleries without a reference point, like the crowds above. No expense was spared in the flooring, the marble, the light fixtures and the gilt.  Palais du Louvre began its life as a 12th century fortress.  A model representation of the medieval version is on display in the basement, where the original foundations of the old Louvre castle can be seen.





Louvre Painted and Gilded Ceiling by DG Hudson



In 1682, King Louis XIV, the Sun King, moved his household to the Palace of Versailles keeping the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including a collection of antique sculpture.




Antiquities, The Louvre, Paris - by DG Hudson



During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces.  Treasures from antiquity survived because of this wise decision. 

The Louvre Museum Interior, Paris, by DG Hudson

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What do you think of the Louvre?  Do you like art museums?  Or do you think of The Da Vinci Code?  Please share in the comments. 

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References:


http://www.louvre.fr/en  Louvre home page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_districts  Paris Districts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_du_Louvre Louvre Museum, Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre_Pyramid  Louvre Pyramid

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A = Aphrodite - A to Z Challenge 2012

  

Aphrodite at the Louvre, Paris - by DG Hudson



A = Aphrodite of Milos

DG's Theme: Paris, Etc (Art, Film, Places, People)
Also called the Venus de Milo statue, Aphrodite resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.  She's the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Aphrodite, as seen in the photo above, was found in 1820 on Milos (or Melos), one of the Aegean islands.  The arms and original plinth have been lost.  Aphrodite’s face and body style are seen as a combination of the Classic and Hellenistic styles. During World War II, Aphrodite sheltered in safety at a French chateau along with two other important art works from the Louvre.



The legend surrounding Aphrodite started about 3200 BC, when she was revered by the Phoenicians.  She's the Greek Goddess without the body armor.  Born of a dispute between father and son, Aphrodite emerges fully grown in a very unconventional way.  I won't go into details.  See the links below for more on mythology.

Aphrodite seemed to have her fingers in everything, including the affairs of men.  The age of heroes ended with Zeus deciding to put an end to his daughter Aphrodite's practise of mating gods with humans.  These are half-human, half-god mythical heroes, not Marvel or DC comic superheroes.  To teach her a lesson, Zeus caused Aphrodite to fall in love with a mortal man, and suffer the strife of bearing a mortal son. 


Did you know Aphrodite was such a meddler?  Perhaps she had good intentions.  Comments are welcome.



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Links:

Aphrodite at the Louvre Museum
http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/aphrodite-known-venus-de-milo

Venus de Milo/Aphrodite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_de_Milo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite

Aphrodite Legend
http://www.phoenician.org/aphrodite_legend.htm

Aphrodite Myths
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/AphroditeMyths3.html#Aesop

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Statuary at the Louvre - A Study in Stone

Paris, France

Inner Courtyard and Entrance to the Louvre by DG Hudson

If you've never been to the Louvre Museum in Paris, this photo study will give you a peek inside at some of the works on display when we visited in Autumn 2010.  Known for acquiring a broad range of art works, the Louvre's collection encompasses paintings, artifacts and statuary. 




Antiquities, Louvre Museum, Paris, photo by DG Hudson

The Louvre Museum is welcoming, allowing the visitor room to walk, sit or browse, (after you buy your ticket).  All exhibits are well organized and many of the statuary are placed to allow viewing up close.  This museum is huge and requires lots of walking, up stairs, down stairs and around the corners.  Different wings of the building are dedicated to specific time periods or various civilizations. 


Below is a corner of the ceiling enhanced with gilding, painted images and deep windows.



Ceiling detail Louvre Museum, Paris by DG Hudson



Don't miss the floors in this beautiful gallery.  A palace first, the Louvre was built to house a king and the details of its structure attest to its past.  Murals cover the walls at the top of the a stairway, and a huge Sphinx sits in a corridor, just waiting to be admired. 




Original Palace Foundations of the Louvre -Photo by DG Hudson



Don't miss the basement of the Louvre where the foundations of the original palace can be seen.  They give a hint of the age of the building, while the model shows the medieval design. 



Model of early Louvre Palace, photo by DG Hudson




Below is one of the must-see statues at the Louvre, Winged Victory; I've cropped out all the visitors who were at its feet, but there were many admiring this sculpture.




The Nike of Samothrace, or Winged Victory c.190 BC - photo by DG Hudson



The woodwork and design of the ceiling in some of the gallery halls, the multilayering of marble on the statues, and the detail on some of the columns make it difficult to know where to look first.  It's definitely a feast for the eyes and the camera.



Near the entrance to the Louvre Antiquities, by DG Hudson



Statues of different sizes, and of different cultures are displayed in a very satisfying manner for the viewer.  Exhibits can vary as to how noisy or crowded they might be, as the tour guides lead their groups through.  There are quiet exhibits with students sitting and drawing the statues or studying the paintings.  It's nice to see that art students are still sent to the galleries to study the masters.





In Main Gallery, A man rests, by DG Hudson



The sunlight made a play of light and shadow on these ladies.  Hairdos don't seem to have really changed that much.


Statuary with hair and dress details, Louvre, Paris by DG Hudson


Some exhibits encompass an entire room, with artifacts of the same time period,  like a room in an old castle.  Note the floor in the photo below and the mantel to the right.





Antiquities, Louvre Museum, Paris by DG Hudson



Another partial sculpture below is slightly larger than life size.  The statue is carved with such finesse that the headdress seems touchable.  It's tucked into a niche in one of the main galleries.

Antiquities at the Louvre, Paris by DG Hudson

Walk slowly through this museum or you'll miss something.  Look up, then down, at the walls and along the aisles.  Art is literally everywhere in this unique gallery.  For more details, check

Louvre Museum Home Page http://www.louvre.fr/en  

The Louvre Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_du_Louvre


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How about you?  Do you go to museum/galleries to see art or natural history, flight museums, car museums? 

Please share in the comments if you know of unique or interesting museums that you've seen.