THE LOUVRE – history in many forms
Now proceeding to one of my ‘most looked-forward-to’ moments – the great Louvre Museum, home to some of the world’s finest artworks from all parts of history not to mention items from the lands of ancient history.
Another large walk finds us at the rear of the Louvre and we have to walk another distance to one of the entrances. We find ourselves in front of the Passage Richelieu so it’s in we go. We present our tickets, go through the security scan and here we are. How exciting!
We are on the Lower Ground Floor and our first area of discovery is the Medieval Moat. In 1190 King Philippe Auguste built a massive fortress on the site of the current-day Louvre in an effort to protect the city from attack via the Seine.
It’s amazing to think that nearly a thousand years later we can walk around the original perimeter and look at the original piers that supported the drawbridge. Ah, if only these bricks could speak what stories they could tell.
Next is one of my favourite interests – Ancient Egypt.
Upstairs we go and this is what we see as we enter – the Great Sphinx of Tanis. This sphinx dates back to 2600BC. It was found in 1825 among the ruins of the Temple of Amun at Tanis, which was the capital of Egypt during the 21st and 22nd dynasties. It is one of the largest sphinx sculptures in existence outside of Egypt and some people believe it is the guardian of the Egyptian collection in the museum.
Little bit of trivia – when it was put into the Louvre there was no machinery strong enough to lift the 26 tonne beast and put in in position, so they made a whole in the wall and then the sphinx was pushed and pulled until it was in place. The hole was then sealed up again. Seems like a lot of hard work – but I am glad they did it.
So much to look at, where do I start?
On the left is the Scribe of the Grain Ounsou and his wife Imenhetep. This statue is 18th Dynasty and was most probably from his funerary chapel.
Middle statue is that of a Pharaoh sitting on a throne covered in inscriptions in the name of Ramesses II.
On the right is a selection of interesting artefacts that carry mystery and beauty.
Not only are there large items like the ones above but there are smaller more delicate objects – some from tombs, some dedicated to gods and goddesses.
The ancients show us what workmanship was like prior to all the modern tools available today. Even with some of today’s tools, items like these could not be reproduced. Amazing isn’t it?
OK – time to move from Ancient Egypt to another of my favourite parts of history – Imperial Rome and Classical Greece.
The section of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities is home to a collection of artworks representing the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman civilizations; it illustrates the art of a vast area encompassing Greece, Italy, and the whole of the Mediterranean basin, and spans the period from Neolithic times (4th millennium BC) to the 6th century AD.
Unlike the very static Egyptian art, Greek and Roman sculptures show a flow and movement and you expect them to get down off their pedestals and walk around.
Look at the folds of material on Athena, the rippling muscles of Apollo and the sheerness of the garment on Aphrodite.
On the left is Athena, goddess of wisdom, the arts and all types of work. This is a Roman replica of a Greek statue made of bronze from the fourth century – the Piraeus Athena. Seen here in a more gentle and benevolent attitude – she wears a helmet and, across her chest, the aegis (the skin of the goat of Amaltheia), bordered with snakes and adorned with the head of the gorgon Medusa.
In the middle is Apollo – charming, strong, brave and clever he was the god of sun and of light, he was the most perfect example of Greek beauty.
On the right – Aphrodite – the most beautiful of all the goddesses – she was, of course, the goddess of love. This statue – one of the most remarkable Roman copies of a Greek bronze created by Callimachus in the late fifth century BC – was the jewel of Louis XIV’s collection of antiquities. The Romans, anxious to highlight their connection with the goddess, gave this figure of Aphrodite the name “Venus Genitrix” or “Mother Venus”. The figure of the goddess is both sensual and humane; her clinging robe serves to highlight the contours of her body.
At the end of this gallery is one of the most famous sculptures of ancient Greece – the Aphrodite of Milos better known as the Venus de Milo.
Created sometime between 130 and 100 BC, it is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty – (Venus to the Romans). It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) high. This graceful statue of a goddess has intrigued and fascinated since its discovery on the island of Melos in 1820.
Although the Aphrodite of Milos is widely renowned for the mystery of her missing arms that were lost following the discovery, enough evidence remains to prove that the right arm of the statue was lowered across the torso with the right hand resting on her raised left knee so it would seem to hold the sliding drapery wrapped around the hips and legs in place.
Another well known work of art – the Three Graces. They are the beautiful sister Goddesses who attended Aphrodite, the Goddess of love and were personifications of grace and beauty. They spread the joy of nature and lived on Olympus.
In art they are frequently represented as naked girls with their hands on each others shoulders the two outer figures looking one way and the middle one looking the other. This statue is a Roman copy of the Imperial Era after a Hellenistic original.
This museum is a place where you don’t know where to look next. Everywhere you turn there are masterpieces that I remember. This post could easily be broken down into 50 different sections but – let’s not go there. Time to move on.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’ Kiss. In Antonio Canova’s statue – having been recently awakened, Psyche reaches up towards her lover, Cupid as he gently holds her by supporting her head and breast.
Loosely draped around Psyche’s lower body, a sheet further emphasizes the difference between the texture of skin and drapery. Rough texture provides the basis of the rock upon which the composition is placed supplementing the distinctions of elements.
The sculpture has such a light feel about it – mainly due to the realistic wings of cupid as he gently lands beside Psyche.
Michelangelo – what can one say. After all the magnificent works we have seen in Florence and Rome – these two are just as breath-taking. His works are so vast and his talent unbelievable that all I can do is look in awe.
These two statues are called ‘The Captive Slaves’.
The two chained slaves express entirely different emotions.
The one known as the Dying Slave (left) is superbly young and handsome, and seems to be in a deep (perhaps eternal) sleep.
The other, called the Rebellious Slave (right), is a coarser figure whose whole body seems engaged in a violent struggle.
Michelangelo intended both statues for the splendid funerary monument originally planned for and by Pope Julius II — a project which was repeatedly modified during forty years of successive programs.
In his quest for absolute truth in art, Michelangelo abandoned a work when he felt he could not attain his ideal. He thus left the marks of his tools (hammers, chisels, rasps, gradines and trepans) clearly visible — living traces of his tireless fight with raw material, which he worked relentlessly in his quest to liberate the figure imprisoned within.
Enough sculptures for a while – it is time to investigate the magnificent galleries of famous artworks.
Seeing we are in Paris, France and seeing we are in the Louvre it is only fair that I show two famous French paintings.
The painting on the left is entitled ‘Liberty Leading the People’. A painting commemorating the Revolution A woman personifying Liberty leads the people forward over the bodies of the fallen, holding the tricolor flag of the French Revolution (which is still France’s flag today) – in one hand and brandishing a gun with the other.
Another great French figure is Napoleon. In this painting he is shown standing, dressed in coronation robes similar to those of Roman emperors. Others in the painting are merely passive spectators. In the actual painting it is possible to see the outline of what was originally painted: Napoleon holding the crown above his own head, as if placing on himself.
Enough painting for the time being – just one more statue – and oh so very, very famous – Winged Victory.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a 2nd century BC marble statue of the Greek goddess Nike (Victory). Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world.
The statue shows her descending from the skies to stand on the prow of a ship of the triumphant fleet which overlooked the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on the island of Samothrace. This monument was probably offered by the people of Rhodes in commemoration of a naval victory in the early second century BC.
Before she lost her arms, which have never been recovered, Nike’s right arm was raised, cupped round her mouth to deliver the shout of Victory.
Victory is also memorable for an appearance in the film ‘Funny Face’ starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. An incredible scene where Hepburn is wearing an elegant red gown and comes down the staircase with arms raised high above her head and holding a red wrap yelling ‘take the picture, take the picture’.
Now onto another genius – Leonardo da Vinci. What can I say? I cannot find the words that would adequately describe this man so I will let Wikipedia say it for me.
An Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer. His genius perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man, a man of “unquenchable curiosity” and “feverishly inventive imagination”.
He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. The scope and depth of his interests were without precedent and “his mind and personality seem to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote”. His vision of the world is essentially logical rather than mysterious, and that the methods he employed were unusual for his time.
In a gallery tucked away right at the end there is The Mona Lisa. I don’t know what I expected except that I didn’t expect it to be that small. Maybe with a walk up to the painting I will improve my perspective – – –
Nope – it is a small painting – behind glass in her own roped off area. The glass is very reflective and it is extremely difficult to get a good look never mind get a good picture.
Among the works created by Leonardo in the 16th century is the small portrait known as the Mona Lisa or “la Gioconda”, the laughing one.
In the present era it is arguably the most famous painting in the world. Its fame rests, in particular, on the elusive smile on the woman’s face, its mysterious quality brought about perhaps by the fact that the artist has subtly shadowed the corners of the mouth and eyes so that the exact nature of the smile cannot be determined.
I have an idea that maybe she is thinking ‘that’s a really ridiculous outfit you’ve got on today Leo’. Many, many tourists all wanting to get a glimpse of that famous smile so time to move on to another famous Da Vinci artwork – ‘The Virgin of the Rocks’.
The Virgin of the Rocks – sometimes called the Madonna of the Rocks – is the name used for two paintings of the same subject by Da Vinci. They are identical except for several significant details. This is the earlier version and the other hands in the National Gallery in London. The paintings are both nearly 2 metres (over 6 feet) high and are painted in oils. Both were painted on wooden panel; but the one in the Louvre has been transferred to canvas.
It was commissioned in Milan for the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. The painting was to fill a large complex altarpiece, already constructed. Leonardo chose to paint an important moment of the infancy of Christ when the infant John the Baptist in protection of an angel, met the Holy Family on the road to Egypt. In this scene, as painted by Leonardo, John recognizes and worships Jesus as the Christ.
The painting demonstrates an eerie beauty as the graceful figures kneel in adoration around the infant Christ in a wild landscape of tumbling rock and whirling water.
It has been a long day and I have seen so many, many important works of art – the memory of which will stay forever.
Time to head for home but not before we see the Louvre Pyramids. On our way out – through the shopping arcade is the inverted pyramid which is a skylight in the Carrousel du Louvre shopping mall in front of the Louvre Museum. It looks like an upside-down and smaller version of the Louvre Pyramid.
Walking into the outside plaza we get a great night-time view of the Eiffel Tower. We will visit this Paris landmark later in our stay but to see it lit with the light rays searching Paris is wonderful. The night is warm and the city is alive with tourists and locals who just want to sit and talk and enjoy this wonderful place.
Time for some night time photography – unfortunately we do not have our tripods with us so we will have to make do. Once again the star lens makes an appearance for a bit of experimentation.
The Louvre Pyramid is a large glass and metal pyramid surrounded by three smaller pyramids. They are situated in the main courtyard of the museum and the large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre. Completed in 1989, it has become a landmark of the city.
Heading for home we have a larger than life day tomorrow – a visit to the wonderful Palace of Versailles.
Highlight of the day : has to be the Louvre