Located on the right bank of the Seine, Louvre Museum is one of the world’s largest museums with nearly 35, 000 objects in display over 60,600 square metres. Museum is located at the Louvre Palace built in the late 12th century under Philip II. It was officially opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings. But it was closed again in 1796 because of structural problems but was opened again in 1801. The museum’s artifacts are divided into eight curatorial departments as Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.
During the 14th century, the museum was under constant restoration programs. When the French revolution hit Paris, the Louvre was transformed into a public museum. Museum's first director was Dominique Vivant Denon. As a respect to Napoleon, the museum was once named after him but it was only until his defeat at Waterloo. During 1814-1830Louis XVIII and Charles X added 135 pieces and created the department of Egyptian antiquities curated by Champollion, increased by more than 7,000 works with the acquisition of the Durand, Salt or second Drovetti collections. Around 1852 and 1870, the French economy grew adding about 20 000 new pieces to the museum collection and the Pavillion de Flore and Grande Galerie was remodeled.
The pyramid complex was inaugurated on 15 October 1988 and completed in 1993. Today the museum contains more than 380,000 objects and displays 35,000 works of art in eight curatorial departments. Egyptian antiquities department has over 50 000 pieces including artifacts from the Nile civilizations which date from 4,000 BC to the 4th century. Next is the Eastern antiquities department which is divided into three geographic areas as the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Persia. The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman department has pieces from the Mediterranean Basin dating from the Neolithic to the 6th century and it is also the oldest part in the museum. The Islamic art collection is the newest section of the museum which spans over thirteen centuries and three continents comprising ceramics, glass, metalware, wood, ivory, carpet, textiles, and miniatures.
The sculpture department contains great sculptures like Daniel in the Lions' Den, Virgin of Auvergne, Descent from the Cross, Resurrection of Christ, Woman Bathing, Amour menaçant and Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss. Decorative arts department contains many like ceramics, enamels, and stained glass, gold jewelry and maiolicas, the coronation crown of Louis XIV, Charles V's sceptre, the 12th century porphyry vase, Giambologna's bronze Nessus and Deianira and the tapestry Maximillian's Hunt. Museum’s painting collection rounds up over 6000 works mostly by French artists. Most of the Italian paintings are remnants of Francis I and Louis XIV's collections.
Travellers’ Guide
If you are planning to visit Louvre Museum, as you all know it is situated in the centre of Paris. The museum is open every day except Tuesday and French holidays: December 25, January 1, and May 1.
Opening hours are- Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Friday: from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
- closed on Tuesday
Admission to the permanent collection is free for all on the first Sunday of every month and on July 14 (national holiday).
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