Richelieu Wing

Richelieu Wing. One of the three main wings of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, the Richelieu Wing forms the northern side of the iconic Cour Napoléon. Originally constructed in the mid-19th century to house French government ministries, it was repurposed and inaugurated as museum space in 1993 following the ambitious Grand Louvre project. Today, it houses an immense and diverse collection spanning European sculpture, French painting, and the ancient Near East, organized around spectacular, light-filled interior courtyards.

History

The wing's history is deeply intertwined with the political and administrative history of France. Constructed between 1852 and 1857 under the direction of architects Louis Visconti and Hector Lefuel during the reign of Napoleon III, it was designed not as a museum but to accommodate the expanding Ministry of Finance. For over 130 years, the building served this governmental function, its offices occupying spaces originally conceived during the Second French Empire. The transformative moment came with the launch of the Grand Louvre project in the 1980s, championed by President François Mitterrand. The relocation of the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance to Bercy in 1989 vacated the entire structure, allowing architect I. M. Pei and his team, including Michel Macary, to mastermind its conversion into a world-class museum facility. Its galleries were inaugurated on November 18, 1993, dramatically expanding the Louvre's exhibition space.

Architecture and design

The architecture is a prime example of Second Empire architecture, characterized by its elaborate mansard roofs, sculptural ornamentation, and grand ceremonial spaces. The interior was radically transformed during the 1990s renovation under the guidance of I. M. Pei and the project's lead architect, Michel Macary. The most striking architectural features are the three major, glass-roofed courtyards—Cour Marly, Cour Puget, and Cour Khorsabad—which were unroofed ministry courtyards now converted into breathtaking sculpture halls. These spaces are capped with modernist glass and steel pyramids designed by Pei, echoing his larger Louvre Pyramid in the courtyard outside. The design elegantly juxtaposes 19th-century stonework with contemporary engineering, creating a unique dialogue between eras.

Collections and galleries

The wing hosts some of the Louvre's most celebrated collections. Its European sculpture department is magnificently displayed in the Cour Marly and Cour Puget, featuring monumental French works like Antoine Coysevox's *Horses of Marly* and pieces by Augustin Pajou and Jean-Antoine Houdon. The comprehensive collection of French painting from the 14th to the 19th centuries is also housed here, including masterpieces by Nicolas Poussin, Jacques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Furthermore, the wing contains the extensive departments of Decorative Arts (Objets d'art) and the Ancient Near Eastern antiquities collections, with highlights from the palaces of Assyrian kings like Sargon II at Dur-Sharrukin.

Renovations and expansions

The primary renovation was the integral conversion of the former ministry building, completed between 1989 and 1993 as the centerpiece of the Grand Louvre project. This involved complex structural work to create new gallery floors, install climate control systems, and integrate the monumental courtyards. Subsequent projects have focused on modernizing visitor facilities and refreshing specific galleries. A significant renovation of the Near Eastern antiquities galleries was undertaken in the 2010s, improving the presentation of artifacts from civilizations like Sumer, Akkad, and Persia. Ongoing maintenance and technological upgrades ensure the preservation of both the historic structure and the invaluable collections it houses.

Role within the Louvre Museum

The wing plays a critical role in the museum's overall organization and visitor experience. It balances the collections of the Sully Wing and the Denon Wing, creating a logical geographical and chronological circuit for exploring the museum's holdings. By dedicating substantial space to French painting and sculpture, it provides a national narrative core, while its Ancient Near East galleries offer a crucial prelude to the Egyptian antiquities and Greek antiquities found elsewhere. The wing's spacious courtyards and less-crowded galleries, compared to the Denon Wing housing the Mona Lisa, also serve as vital areas for visitor circulation and respite, fundamentally shaping the flow and accessibility of the entire Musée du Louvre.

Category:Wings of the Louvre Museum Category:Buildings and structures in the 1st arrondissement of Paris Category:1857 establishments in France