| The museum
has approximately 6000 European paintings and and was originally
designed as a palace. It has been influenced by major events in
French history and has experienced changes and additions to the
original structure by many architects and decorators. When the
Orsay museum was created in 1986, most of the post 1848 works
left the Louvre and were transferred to the new museum which is
close by.
The museum presents the main part of its treasures to visitors,
in the new Richelieu wing, islamic art collections, oriental antiques,
French sculptures, objets d'art,French paintings & paintings
from the Northern school (including Rubens).
Let's not forget, the ever so famous masterpieces:the Venus of
Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Mona Lisa of Leonard
da Vinci, and so many others. The Louvre Museum in Paris is the
probably the most famous and largest art museum in the world!
The Louvre was built on the site of a medieval
fortress on the banks of the Seine river. It was used as the official
residence of the French Kings during the 16th and 17th centuries
before the Court moved to Versailles in 1682. Its collection,
which ranges from Egyptian art of 5000 BC to nineteenth-century
work, is divided into seven departments: Oriental and Islamic
Antiquities; Egyptian Antiquities; Greek, Roman and Etruscan Antiquities;
Painting; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; and Graphic Arts.
Throughout the 17th century, as Paris assumed
a dominant role in Europe, the Louvre's holdings increased dramatically.
Particularly important acquisitions during this period were major
works by the great Dutch and Flemish masters. In the 18th century
the annual salon exhibitions were established. The first state
museum was opened in the Louvre in 1793. The central position
held by the Louvre in the artistic life was magnified by Napoleon
I, who began its Egyptian collection. The overall museum complex
was completed under Napoleon III (1852-70). Subsequently, the
Louvre expanded its collections greatly through gifts and bequests.
Its departments now include Oriental (ancient Mesopotamian), Greek
and Roman, and Egyptian antiquities; sculptures from the Middle
Age to modern times; furniture and objets d'art; and European
paintings and drawings.
The relaxing Tuileries garden near by the Louvre museum is one
of the most beautiful parks in Paris. Altogether a first class
combination well worth a full day of your time.
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