T Louvre, Paris, France, world's visited museums, historic monument, national symbol. T collection contains nearly 35,000 pieces displayed structure's 60,000 square metres (6.5×105 q ). T museum Right Bank, neighborhood referred 1 arrondissement between Seine River R Rivoli. T Louvre slightly askew x historique, g architectural straightaway through centre Paris.

T structure, begun 1190 CE, originated fortress during Capetian dynasty under reign Philip II residence. U depository François I, opened public after French Revolution. A time, Louvre intended symbolize progress Liberty destination y spoils brought y Napoleon's victorious armies. I 20 century, Grand Louvre project undertaken renovate museum p modern standards, Pyramid L Pyramide Inversée being completed 1989 1993, respectively.

T museum divided among eight curatorial departments, contains world's celebrated artworks displays almost every genre A. I addition, collection displays pieces Egyptian, Oriental, Islamic origin. Notable works include Leonardo D Vinci's M Lisa, T Virgin Child S. Anne, Madonna Rocks; Jacques Louis David's O Horatii; Delacroix's Liberty Leading People; Alexandros Antioch's Venus M.

F 1190 1202 CE, during reign Philip Augustus, construction commenced fortress would become Louvre. I unknown first building constructed spot, although contemporary references suggest predecessor. T origin Louvre murky. T historian My Knight Potter contends Kg Philip II referred structure L'Œuvre ( masterpiece) because largest building 13-century Paris. Henri Sauval proposes derivation leouar (castle, fortress) which claims found " Latin-Saxon glossary" while Henry Sutherland Edwards posits rouvre (), referring building's location forest.

Additions completed notably y Charles V, 1358 built defensive around fortress converted Louvre royal residence. I 1546, Francois I removed medieval p decided modernize structure Renaissance stylistic preferences employed architect Pierre Lescot sculptor J Goujon. Lescot built Pavillon R, razed western g replaced -story structure, installed Salle Caryatides ground floor. T latter given caryatids sculpted y Goujon which based Greek/Roman works. Working woodcarver Scibec Carpi, Lescot added ceiling Kg Henry II' royal chamber, which revolutionary compared established -style. These modifications combine "classicism traditional French architecture" considered prime examples French Renaissance style.

I 1564, Henri II' wife, Catherine de'Medici directed building Palais Tuileries, which faced Louvre. S intended gallery connect through courtyard between palaces, built until later. I 1594, Kg Henry IV began construction "Grand Design", renovation Louvre intended remove remnants medieval fortress. T p included 460-metre (1,509 ) Grande Galerie, linkage between Pavillon Flore, Louvre, Palais Tuileries. T gallery completed y 1610, Pavillon Flore covered. However, Henry IV stabbed y Grand Design y unfinished.

I 1624, classical architects L V Lemercier completed design C Carrée under Louis XIII Louis XIV reigns, quadrupling courtyard. T eponymous L V-L Mercier Wg finished still visible today. I 1659, Louis XIV instigated phase production under L V, L Nôtre, painter Charles B. L Nôtre charged creating Tuileries garden courtyard between palaces; L V finished Tuileries palace, L B completed decoration Gallerie d'Apollon. Progress building slowed after Louis XIV chose Versailles residence. Although p diminished, colonnade constructed along eastern side, facade built south. T royal household's Versaille allowed Louvre residence y painters artists; however, transformation finished until French Revolution.

French Revolution



T Louvre showplace artwork dates François I, until French Revolution royal collection opened public became "Muséum central Arts". O 10 August 1792, Bourbon monarchy collapsed, Louis XVI imprisoned, royal collection declared national property (biens nationaux). T National Assembly, deciding collection weakened y being "dispersed" matter "urgent", turned palace museum. T royal collection combined Church property, which appropriated y State 1789. W legal authorization given 6 My 1791, marquis Marigny successor, comte d'Angiviller, began developing Louvre's permanent collection.

T museum opened public 10 August 1793, fanfare, because national artistic display demonstration revolutionary ideals. T works reserved ancien régime viewable y public important nascent republic "benefit Liberty". T museum's opening hectic, artists lived residence, works placed randomly throughout palace. However, republic dedicated considerable , 100,000 livres p year, p institution expand collection works abroad. F 1794 onwards, France's victorious revolutionary armies brought increasing numbers pieces across Europe, aiming establish Louvre major European museum symbol revolutionary progress. Significant additions young collection masterpieces Italy, including Laocoon Apollo Belvedere papal collection, which arrived Paris Jy 1798 pp ceremony.

Napoleon



Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived y Cupid's K commissioned 1787, first version donated Louvre after reign Napoleon I 1824.During Napoleon's European conquests, museum augmented collection, Napoleon appointed first director, Dominique Vivant, baron Denon, after Egyptian campaign 1798–1801. I tribute, museum renamed "Musée Napoléon" 1803, y works added collection countries Spain, Austria, Holland, Italy. These often y gleeful Parisians, escorted works museum along quais Seine.

After French defeat Waterloo, former owners y acquisitions sought their return. T administrators Louvre loathe comply works their private collections. I response, foreign states emissaries London p making French comply, y pieces returned. T diminished Louvre began adding articles other Parisian institutions Luxembourg Palace, which Rubens' collection, L S. Bruno, works y Vernet acquired.

19 century after Napoleon

After Napoleon, during Restoration (1814–30), monarchies Louis XVIII Charles X together added 135 pieces 720,000 francs. T considerably amount given rehabilitation Versailles, Louvre suffered relative Paris. After creation French Second Republic 1848, government allocated million francs repair neglected y monarchy ordered completion Galerie d'Apollon, Salon Carré, Grande Galerie, additions which Seine.

O 2 December 1851, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, elected President Republic, staged p d'état y dissolving National Assembly ushering Second French Empire. Between 1852 1870, French economy g; museum added 20,000 pieces collections, Tuileries completed Pavillon Flore. Several thousand artworks, including 200 paintings y bronzes sculptures arrived after acquisition Campana museum. These additions included Sarcophagus Married Couple, jewelry, various maiolicas. Further purchases gifts 133 works 256 pieces given institution styled Collection Lacaze. These included works y Rembrandt Bathsheba H B. T period rapid growth continued early 20 century, became evident structure small amount displayed.

Third Republic present

T French Third Republic began after demise Second Empire Franco Prussian W 1870. During period, Louvre acquired pieces donations large gifts, those Baron Devaillier Madame Boucicaut. T Société A Louvre donated Pieta Villeneuve è Avignon, 1863 sculpture Winged Victory Samothrace uncovered archaeological expedition Aegean S. T particular piece, despite being heavily damaged, considered Louvre's valuable pieces prominent display since 1884.

T growth period disrupted y First Second World W. During both, y structure's valuable pieces hidden, specifically Venus M M L. After wars, museum unable acquire y significant works, exceptions Georges Tour's Saint Thomas collection prints drawings given donation Baron Edmond Rothschild's (1845–1934) collection 1935. T donation contained 40,000 engravings, nearly 3,000 drawings 500 illustrated books.

T Louvre today monument comprehensive museum. T structure contains elements medieval beginnings, Renaissance additions, renovations neoclassical style, recent modifications elevators. T contemporary Louvre notable popular culture, having point interest movie T D Vinci C.

Ax historique



T destroyed Tuileries Palace, connected Louvre, y eastern Ax historique (Historic Ax), 8-kilometre (5 ) g straightaway begins L Défense includes Champs Élysées A Triomphe. T x begun 1572 architect André L Nôtre planted trees Louvre courtyard Tuileries. I 1871, Paris Commune burned palace ground, became possible Louvre aligned g x. T museum appeared along sight Champs Élysées, after destruction palace, clear .

Grand Louvre Pyramids

French President Francois Mitterand proposed improvements Louvre 1983. H Grand Louvre p included renovating building, moving Finance Ministry elsewhere, permitting display throughout. I.M. P, Chinese-American architect, awarded project proposed glass pyramid central courtyard, which argued created "strong symbolic element ... delicate stable, correctly proportioned overwhelm architecture Louvre rearing point there..." T pyramid underground lobby, which enclose entrance area, inaugurated October 15, 1988. T second phase project, L Pyramide Inversée, completed 1993.

Departments organization

T Musée Louvre's collection contains 380,000 objects displays 35,000 works drawn eight curatorial departments. M 60,600 square metres (6.52×105 q ) exhibition space dedicated permanent collection. According 2005 annual report, collection includes 11,900 paintings, second largest holding Western pictorial world after State Hermitage Russia. Sx thousand paintings permanent display, 5,900 storage. Besides paintings, Louvre exhibits include sculptures, objets d'art, archaeological finds. Oversight property carried y nearly 2,000 Louvre employees y Henri Loyrette, director.

Decorative



T crown matches emerald necklace y P-Nicolas Menière 1814 housed Decorative A department.T decorative arts, objects d'art, department contains thousands works spanning period Middle Ag -19 century. T collection began through appropriation royal property after revolution, mostly Louis XIV, transfer Basilique Saint-Denis, burial ground French monarchs Coronation Sword Kings France. Among budding collection's prized works pietre vases bronzes, decorative collection initially p sculpture department. Soon, acquisition Durand collection 1825 augmented Louvre collection "ceramics, enamels, stained glass", 800 additional pieces given y Pierre Revoil. T onset Romanticism during second 18 century rekindled interest Renaissance Medieval artwork, Sauvageot donation expanded department's holdings nearly 1,500 middle g faience works. T acquisition Campana collection 1862 added g jewelry majolicas, mainly 15 16 centuries.

T department's pieces displayed primarily first floor Richelieu Wg Apollo Gallery, named y painter Charles L Brun, commissioned y Louis XIV, "S King", decorate space theme, . T medieval collection notably contains coronation crown Louis XIV, Charles V' sceptre, 12 century porphyry . T Renaissance holdings include Giambologna's bronze Nessus Deianira tapestry Maximillian's Hunt, often cited. F later periods, highlights include Madame Pompadour's Sevres collection Napoleon III's royal apartments.

Egyptian antiquities



T Egyptian antiquities department holds 50,000 pieces N civilizations, dating 4,000 BCE, 4 century CE. T renowned holdings attest 19 century French Egyptology include works Ancient Egypt; Middle Kingdom; N Kingdom; Roman, Ptolemaic, Byzantine periods; Coptic . Egyptian artifacts royal collection predated department Napoleon, European interest Egypt augmented y Napoléon's 1798 expeditionary p. Dominique Vivant, future director Louvre, known Musée Napoléon, participated expedition. T department opened 1826 after decree y Kg Charles X, impressed y holdings Rosetta Stone translator J-François Champollion, appointed director. T initial collection expanded 2,500 works Durand's holdings 4,000 "Egyptian Consul Alexandria". T department continued g acquisitions y Auguste Mariette, founder Egyptian Museum Cairo , after being dispatched Egypt, crates archaeological finds, including T Seated Scribe.

T collection, housed primarily C Carée Denon Wg includes , papyrus scrolls, mummies, artifacts consists 20 rooms arranged chronologically guarded y Large Sphinx entrance. Apart documentation Egyptian life, containing tools, clothing, jewelry, games, musical instruments, weapons, collection draws periods ancient Egypt, permitting overview origin 4 century CE. Significant holdings Ancient period include Gebel- A knife 3400 BCE, T Seated Scribe, H Kg Djedefre. T Middle Kingdom shows movement realism idealization exemplified y sandstone statue Amenemhatankh wooden Offering Bearer. T N Kingdom Coptic Egyptian sections profoundly deep, statue goddess Nephthys depiction goddess Hathor limestone cited exemplifying sentiment N Kingdom.

Greek, Etruscan, Roman



T Greek, Etruscan, Roman department displays pieces throughout Mediterranean Basin dating Neolithic 6 century CE. T collection encyclopedic, containing examples early Cycladic period (notably y marble Female Head, which dates between 2700 2400 BCE), decline Roman Empire showcases ceramics, marbles, ivories, frescoes, glass work, precious metal items. A Egyptian collection, department began appropriated royal , which acquired under Francois I Salle Caryatides. Initially, collection focused marble sculptures, Venus M. Works Apollo Belvedere arrived during Napoleonic Wars, y these pieces returned after Napoleon's 1815. I 19 century Louvre acquired vases Durand collection, bronzes Borghese V Bibliothèque nationale, other mediums.

T collection makes selection notable works difficult. F archaic, limestone Ly Auxerre H Samos highlight trends austerity Ly stands contrast "cylindrical delicacy" H. After 4 century BCE, focus human increased exemplified y Borghese Gladiator, although Winged Victory Samothrace (190 BCE) Venus Milo, which "symbolizes classical " among -known Louvre's holdings. I galleries paralleling Seine, expansive collection Roman sculpture displayed. T Roman portraiture particularly representative genre; examples include portraits Agrippa Annius Verus, among bronzes Greek Apollo Piombino, which contrasted later portraits. A notable Greek vases Eupronios' Heracles Antaeus offer perspective stylistic schools 9 century 2 century.

Islamic



These exhibits include 5,000 works 1,000 shards, examples ceramics, glass, metalware, wood, ivory, carpet, textiles, miniatures. T collection originally p decorative department became separate department 2003. T holdings include Pyxide '-Mughira, ivory x dating 968 CE Andalusia, Baptistery Saint-Louis, engraved brass basin 13 14 century Mamluk period transferred museum royal collection 1793. T collection contains three pages Shahnameh, p p y Ferdowsi written entirely Persian, Syrian metalwork named Barberini V.

N Eastern antiquities



T second youngest Louvre department, which contains N Eastern antiquities collection, created 1881. Presenting broad overview early N Eastern civilization, displays works region's "first settlements", before arrival Islam. T section's development corresponds growth archaeological Levant, Mesopotamia, Iran, beginning notably P-Émile Botta's 1843 expedition Khorsabad which Louvre's "Assyrian Museuem" founded after discovery Sargon II' palace. T early holdings augmented y Claude Schafeffer's excavations R-Shamra Andre Parrot's Mari, Syria.

T holdings representing Mesopotamian region Sumer y Akkad particularly p. T illuminated monuments Prince Lagash's Stele Vultures 2,450 BCE stele erected under Naram-Suen, Kg Akkad, celebrate victory barbarians Zagros Mountains. O renowned pieces C Hammurabi, discovered 1901. T 2.25-metre (7.38 ) basalt stele displays Babylonian L, order could plead ignorance.

Paintings

T paintings department currently comprises 6,000 works 13 century through 1848, significant numbers French paintings, 1,200 Northern European pieces, notable Italian collection. Although largest world, holdings perhaps "most complete" collection Western pictorial . T 12 curators paintings department oversee arrangement display collection, which predates Louvre museum. T museum structure depository painted works began François I, envisioned collection, named Cabinet Pictures, would rival those Italy. T achieve this, g acquired works Italian masters Raphael Michelangelo asked Leonardo D Vinci attend court.

After French Revolution, these works formed nucleus nascent Louvre. T collection continued g throughout years First French Empire during Napoleon's European W. W d'Orsay train station converted Musée d'Orsay 1986, painting collection split, pieces completed after 1848 Revolution moved newly formed museum. French works Northern Europe Richelieu g C Carrée, while Spanish Italian paintings first floor Denon g.

David permitted attend coronation executed painting 24,000 francs.Nearly -thirds works drawn French style, sheer makes selecting standouts difficult. Particularly exemplifying French School "grandiose" Avignon Pieta Enguerrand Quarton; J Fouquet's Kg J B, first known French easel painting; Hyacinthe Rigaud's Louis XIV; Jacques-Louis David's T Coronation Napoleon; Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading People, commemorating Jy Revolution. Northern European notables include Johannes Vermeer's T Lacemaker T Astronomer; Caspar David Friedrich's T Crows; Rembrandt's T Supper Emmaus, Bathsheba H B; T Slaughtered Ox. T Italianate paintings, drawn Francois I' collection, include Andrea Mantegna's Calvary Saint Sebastian; Leonardo Vinci's M L Virgin Rocks; Caravaggio's T Fortune Teller Death Virgin.

Prints drawings

T prints drawings collection dedicated museum's compilation works p paper medium numbers 100,000 items. Originally, majority pieces 8,600 works Royal Collection, Cabinet R, augmented through state appropriation, purchases 1,200 works Fillipo Baldinucci's collection 1806, donations. A paintings department, collection g military campaigns during Napoleon's reign. T first showing collection occurred 5 August 1797, department opened public viewing. T large collection organized three sections, Cabinet R additions; grouping 14,000 royal engraved-copper stamps printing; donations Edmond Rothschild, which include 40,000 prints, 3,000 drawings, 5,000 illustrated books. T holdings displayed Pavillon Flore, because fragility paper medium works' sensitivity light, y small portion displayed .

Sculptures



T Philippe P, governor Burgundy under Louis XI, y Antoine MoiturierThe sculptures department contains created before 1850 belong Etruscan, Greek, Roman department. T Louvre repository sculpted material since palace; however, since y ancient architecture considered suitable study, first display medieval, Renaissance, modern works occur until 1824 except Michelangelo's Dying Slave Rebellious Slave. Initially, collection relatively small, about 100 works, because government's focus Versaille. I remained until 1847, Lé Laborde given control department. Laborde developed medieval section purchased first statues sculpture collection, Kg Childebert stanga door, respectively. Initially, collection p department antiquities given autonomy 1871 under Louis Courajod, director organized wider representation French works. I 1986 works after 1850 relocated Musée d'Orsay. A p Grand Louvre project, sculpture department separated exhibition spaces; French collection displayed Richelieu wing, while foreign works located throughout Denon g.

T sculpture collection's comprehensive overview French sculpture includes Romanesque works 11 century Daniel Lions' D 12 century Virgin Auvergne. I 16 century, French sculpture g delicate restrained because Renaissance influence, J Goujon's -reliefs, Germain Pilon's Descent Cross Resurrection Christ. T 17 18 centuries represented y Étienne Maurice Falconet's Woman Bathing Amour menaçant; François Anguier's obelisks. T neoclassical period highlights include Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived y Cupid's K (1787), Louvre's famous works demonstrates period's emphasis emotion .

Controversies

T Louvre involved y controversies, notably those surrounding architectural additions completed during Grand Louvre project restitution cultural property. Regarding latter, debate surrounds artworks other cultural property seized y occupying forces Second World W. After , 60,000 articles returned France. O those, nearly 2,000 objects clear ownership, y claimed y Israelis Jews, retained y French museums, including Louvre. I 1997, Prime Minister Alain Juppé p Mattéoli Commission, named after concentration p survivor J Mattéoli, investigate, "according government Louvre continues 678 pieces artwork." Additionally, discussion continues Italian Northern European pieces acquired y French military during course Napoleon's campaigns antiquities y Louvre taken during excavations, particularly Egypt N E. T Louvre administration argued favor retaining these items despite requests y source nations their return, participates arbitration sessions UNESCO's Committee Promoting Return Cultural Property I Countries Origin.

L

T relieve crowded Paris Louvre, increase total museum visits, improve economy industrial north, French officials decided 2004 build satellite museum abandoned p former mining L. Sx cities considered project: Amiens, Arras, Boulogne--M, Calais, Lens, Valenciennes. I 2004, French Prime Minister J-Pierre Raffarin chose Lens, P--Calais, building, called L Louvre-L. Museum officials predicted building, capable receiving about 600 works , would attract y 500,000 visitors y opened 2009. T architectural Sanaa Tokyo, under direction Ry Nishizawa Kazuyo Sejima, awarded project.

A Dhabi

I March 2007, Louvre announced Louvre museum would completed y 2012 A Dhabi United A Emirates. A 30-y agreement, signed y French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu Vabres Sheik Sultan Tahnoon A Nahyan, establish Louvre museum downtown A Dhabi exchange €832,000 (US$1.3 billion). T Louvre A Dhabi, designed y French architect J Nouvel engineering B Happold, occupy 24,000 square metres (2.6×105 q ) covered y shaped flying saucer. France agreed rotate between 200 300 artworks through Louvre A Dhabi during 10-y period, provide management expertise, provide temporary exhibitions y 15 years. T multiple French museums, including Louvre, Georges Pompidou Centre, Musée d'Orsay, Versailles, Musée Guimet, Musée Rodin, Musée Q Branly.

Location access



Metro Lines serving shown, stations colored . N RER shown. Landmarks black.T museum heavily-visited centre Paris Right B. T neighborhood, known I arrondissement, destroyed Palais Tuileries Tuileries Gardens. These gardens, created 1564 y Catherine Medici reorganized 1664 y André L Nôtre, house Galerie nationale J Paume, contemporary museum store Jewish cultural property 1940 1944.

T Pavillon Flore Denon Wing, parallel Seine River, 36 Q Louvre. F L B museum across P Carrousel P A. T museum bounded north y Napoleon's R Rivoli Cardinal Richelieu's former residence, Palais Royal. T Place Louvre.

T Louvre reached y Palais Royal – Musée Louvre Métro Louvre-Rivoli station. T stations named after nearby Palais Royal, Louvre, R Rivoli.