Musée du Louvre

Musée du Louvre. It is the world's most-visited museum and a historic monument in Paris, housing a vast collection spanning from antiquity to the mid-19th century. Located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, its origins are rooted in the Louvre Palace, a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II of France. The museum's holdings, which include iconic works like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, were significantly expanded through royal collections, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic campaigns.

History

The site's history begins with the construction of the Louvre Castle around 1190 by King Philip II of France, designed to protect Paris from invasion. It was transformed from a fortress into a royal residence in the 14th century by Charles V. Major architectural expansion began in the 16th century under Francis I, who hired architect Pierre Lescot and collected works by masters like Leonardo da Vinci, including the future Mona Lisa. Subsequent monarchs, including Henry IV and Louis XIV, vastly enlarged the palace, with the latter moving the court to the Palace of Versailles. The idea of a public museum gained traction during the Enlightenment, culminating in its opening on 10 August 1793 by the National Convention following the French Revolution. Its collections were enormously enriched during the Consulate and First Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte, through spoils from campaigns across Europe and Egypt. The 19th and 20th centuries saw further growth through acquisitions, donations like the Campana collection, and archaeological expeditions, such as those led by Paul-Émile Botta in Khorsabad.

Architecture

The architecture is a palimpsest of eight centuries of French design, centered on the Cour Carrée and the larger Cour Napoléon. The Renaissance wing by Pierre Lescot and sculptor Jean Goujon is a masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture. The classical Colonnade du Louvre was designed by a committee including Claude Perrault and Louis Le Vau under Louis XIV. The most famous modern addition is the Louvre Pyramid, a glass and metal structure designed by I. M. Pei and inaugurated in 1989, which serves as the main entrance. Subsequent projects, like the 1993 opening of the Richelieu Wing (formerly occupied by the Ministry of Finance) and the creation of the Carrousel du Louvre underground shopping mall, completed the "Grand Louvre" project initiated by President François Mitterrand. The museum also manages the satellite location at the Louvre-Lens in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Collections

The collections are divided among eight curatorial departments: Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Prints and Drawings. The Department of Paintings is particularly renowned, holding works from the Italian Renaissance like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, as well as masterpieces by Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio. The French school is extensively represented, from Nicolas Poussin and Jacques-Louis David to Eugène Delacroix. The Department of Egyptian Antiquities, founded by Jean-François Champollion, houses artifacts like the Seated Scribe and the monumental Great Sphinx of Tanis. The Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities features the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Other highlights include the Code of Hammurabi in the Near Eastern Antiquities section and the Crown of Louis XV in the Decorative Arts.

Management and operations

The museum is a state-owned institution run as an établissement public under the supervision of the French Ministry of Culture. Its director, since 2021, is Laurence des Cars, the first woman to hold the position. Day-to-day operations are supported by a staff of over 2,000, including curators, restorers, and security personnel. The museum's budget is derived from state subsidies, its own commercial revenue, and patronage, notably from the American Friends of the Louvre and corporate sponsors like TotalEnergies and HSBC. It faces ongoing challenges in conservation, crowd management for blockbuster exhibitions, and navigating debates over cultural restitution, particularly concerning works acquired during the colonial era, such as those from Egypt and Benin.

In popular culture

The museum serves as a frequent setting and symbol in global popular culture. It is famously the backdrop for the climax of Dan Brown's novel *The Da Vinci Code*, which was adapted into a film starring Tom Hanks. The Louvre Pyramid features prominently in the 1985 music video for The Bangles' song "Walk Like an Egyptian". The museum has been featured in numerous other films, including the French thriller *Belphégor* and the romantic comedy *The Valet*. It is also a common subject in video games, such as the *Assassin's Creed* series, which recreates revolutionary Paris. The museum's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, has been referenced and parodied endlessly, from Marcel Duchamp's L.H.O.O.Q. to appearances in cartoons like *The Simpsons*.

Category:Art museums and galleries in Paris Category:Buildings and structures in the 1st arrondissement of Paris Category:Former royal residences in France