Just because you can’t go on holiday to France at the moment, it doesn’t mean that you can’t explore one of its most famous attractions – the Louvre museum. In our guide, you can find out what to expect during a visit, and can enjoy virtual tours of the Louvre too!
Located on the Right Bank of the River Seine in Paris, the Louvre is the largest arts museum in the world, and the most visited museum globally too. Welcoming around 15,000 visitors per day, over half of which are foreign tourists, the Louvre is home to approximately 38,000 objects and 35,000 works of art, covering everything from prehistory to the 21st century.
History of the Louvre
Originally built as the Louvre Castle across the late 12th and early 13th centuries to protect against English soldiers, the Louvre started its life as a fortress but was then converted into the primary residence of the French Kings in 1546. You can see the remains of the fortress in the crypt when you visit the museum. The Louvre Palace, as it is now known, has been extended many times over the years, and remained as a royal residence until 1682 when Louis XIV opted to live in the Palace of Versailles instead.
It was during the French Revolution (1789-1799) that the National Assembly stated that the palace should be repurposed as a museum which could display the nation’s masterpieces. This opened to the public in 1793, and people could visit free of charge on three days of the week. At this point, the Louvre had 537 paintings and 184 objects of art on display. Artwork numbers increased under Napoleon due to numerous military campaigns. However, after the French were defeated at Waterloo, former owner’s came forward to have their seized pieces returned to them, some of which had been restored by the museum.
These days, the Louvre is perhaps most recognisable due to the glass pyramid that sits in the main court and covers a new entrance that had been created. A new entrance was required because the museum’s original entrance couldn’t cope with the constant flow of visitors, so people now go through the pyramid and down into a lobby. They can then ascend into the museum. The glass pyramid was inaugurated in 1988 and was completed the following year, and the Louvre’s inverted pyramid was created in 1993. The inverted pyramid looks like a smaller version of the main pyramid, and acts as a skylight in the shopping mall located in front of the museum.
The Louvre’s eight departments
There are eight departments that make up the Louvre: Eqyptian antiquities, Near Eastern antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities, Islamic art, sculpture, decorative arts, paintings, and prints and drawings. Here, we share what you can expect in each department, and pinpoint some of the highlights too.
1. Eqyptian antiquities
The Louvre’s Egyptian antiquities collection is made up of around 50,000 pieces split across two floors. This department is focused on the Nile civilisations between 4000BC and the 4th century rather than art, and gives visitors a fascinating insight into Eyptian life during a number of periods, including Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom, and the Roman Ptolemaic.
The first thing that you’ll see is the Large Sphinx which guards the collection. You can then browse fantastic artefacts covering everything from papyrus scrolls and stone inscriptions to clothing, weapons, and musical instruments. Some of the most popular sights in the Egyptian antiquities collection include a large limestone statue of Apis bull, one of Egypt’s most sacred animals, a game called Twenty Squares and all of its playing pieces, and even a genuine mummy! There is just one mummy in the Louvre as they are very difficult to transport, but this particular one is very well-preserved and definitely worth finding during your visit.
2. Near Eastern antiquities
The second oldest collection in the Louvre museum, the Near Eastern antiquities department was established in 1881 thanks to an increase in archaeological digs in the 19th century. These were mainly being carried out by French diplomats and scholars hoping to discover important information about European history. The Near Eastern antiquities collection exhibits are split out into three groups based on where they come from geographically, the Levant, Mesopotamia (Iraq), and Persia (Iran). Within these groups, items are arranged chronologically.
As you might expect, there are a number of interesting artefacts to see as you explore this department. The grimacing terracotta mask, with its openings for the eyes and mouth, is a favourite among guests, and it is unknown whether these masks were used for religious ceremonies, performances, or to protect the dead from demons when they were buried. The white marble sarcophagus is another favourite, and depicts a male head carving on the top, as is the bas-relief, a statue made in a ruler’s likeness which was displayed in a temple.
3. The Louvre’s sculptures
Sculptures have played a big part in the Louvre’s history, and only ancient sculptures were on display to begin with. The department began with 100 royal sculptures as the rest of the collection was held in the Palace of Versailles, but the department has been growing ever since. Now, you can see sculptures from the Middle Ages up until the 19th century, and the Louvre holds one of the largest collections of French sculptures in the world. You can also see pieces from Italy and northern Europe here, and these are displayed separately to the French examples.
Some of the most popular Louvre sculptures include the 1833 bronze statue of Satan by Jean-Jacques Feuchère, the 1790 representation of Diana the Huntress by Jean-Antoine Houdon, and Michelangelo’s ‘The Dying Slave’, an unfinished piece made between 1513 and 1516. Another sculpture to look out for is Saint Mary Magdalene, which was introduced to the Louvre in 1902 from the church of the same name located in Augsburg, a wooden statue showing Mary Magdalene covered only by her own hair.
4. Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities
The Louvre’s department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities boasts items from Greece, Italy, and the whole of the Mediterranean basin. Pieces range in age from the neolithic period to the 6th century and the fall of the Roman Empire. This collection originally held royal art, and marble statues were introduced. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Venus de Milo, a sculpture of Aphrodite which is missing its arms. The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman department also contains vases, bronzes, Roman portraiture, and jewellery, plus you can see over 1000 Greek potteries in the Gallerie Campana.
One of the highlights of this collection is the City Gates Sarcophagus, which was found in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and shows scenes from both the Old and New Testaments. Another popular piece is the sculpture of Agrippa, the son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. This sculpture may be a Roman copy of the original, but it’s a hit with visitors due to its detail and determined expression.
5. Decorative arts in the Louvre
The Louvre’s fascinating decorative arts department gives guests the chance to see everyday objects from the lives of both the nobility and the bourgeoisie. From royal furniture, crockery and clocks to ornaments and tapestries, this large collection boasts thousands of treasures for you to explore and admire. Items range from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century, and everything is split into 7 parts – each representing a specific time in French history. The decorative arts department was renovated not long ago, and swapped its stagnant feel to a very welcoming one.
A must-see in the Louvre’s decorative arts department are the French crown jewels. Each unique crown was custom-made for each king, and they all feature a number of glittering jewels which certainly draw the eye. You should also aim to discover the Napoleon III Apartments during your visit. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever have seen rooms as grand as these, as they are full of rich coloured fabrics, patterned wallpapers, a lot of gold, and some impressive chandeliers. There’s plenty to see and, although the overall look can be overwhelming, paying attention to the smaller details will give you an understanding of how much work went into creating these mesmerising apartments.
6. Islamic art
The newest department in the Louvre museum, the Islamic art collection covers 13 centuries and three continents, giving visitors a really great insight into Islamic culture. This department was originally part of Decorative Arts, but was given independence in 2003, and underwent a decade of construction before it reopened in 2012 as the Islam Gallery. This department holds the largest collection of Islamic art in Europe, with around 18,000 pieces to discover, and showcases everything from ceramics and glass to metalware and miniatures across three floors.
Some of the highlights of the Islamic art department include the Monza Lion, a 12th or 13th century metal fountain spout inscribed with good wishes, and the Shroud of Saint Josse, an amazing example of early Islamic silk weaving which wrapped the bones of Saint Josse in 1134 and was introduced to the Louvre after the French Revolution. Another must-see is the oldest known Islamic globe which boasts over 1000 stars made using a dot of silver. This celestial globe truly is a sight to behold, and precisely depicts the universe in 3D.
7. Paintings in the Louvre
It’ll be unsurprising to hear that the Louvre is packed full of paintings, a third of which were created by French artists, and around 1200 of which are from northern Europe. With so many paintings to look at, it can be wise to decide on which collections you’d like to see before you visit. This way you don’t have to worry about getting painting fatigue! Whether there’s a particular style you like, or you’re just interested in seeing the highlights, you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for, whether this is through your own exploration or with the help of a Louvre guided tour.
Of course, the most popular painting in the Louvre is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. It’s easy to find this painting due to the crowds that surround it, but you might be lucky enough to catch a look at it if you’re patient. The rest of the Italian paintings collection is great too, and boasts some of the finest Italian art in the world. Other highlights include paintings by the Old Masters, including those by Vermeer, Jan van Eyck, and Rembrant – who has four pieces in the Louvre, and the impressive 20 x 32 foot painting of Napoleon’s coronation.
8. The prints and drawings department
The Louvre’s prints and drawings department feels more like a library than a museum, and the works can only be viewed when they are part of an exhibition, or by private appointment. This is because all of the pieces are on paper which can be easily damaged by handling, temperature, and exposure to light. The collection itself began with 8600 pieces from the royal collection, and expanded over time. There are three categories of works in the prints and drawings department: drawings, engraved plates, and the Edmond de Rothschild collection of prints.
The Edmond de Rothschild collection contains around 60,000 pieces which Rothschild had collected since his childhood. One of the highlights of this collection is the group of 100 drawings and engravings by Rembrant. The rest of the prints and drawings department boasts everything from pastels and autographs to books and lithographic stones, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for when exhibitions are running. Alternatively, you can view works of your choice in the reference room through making an appointment (free of charge).
Now that you’ve read our guide to the Louvre, you know exactly where to find the pieces that are of interest to you, and the highlights to keep an eye out for too. For now, you can explore from the comfort of your home by taking advantage of these Louvre museum virtual tours, and plan what you’d like to see in person when you can pay a visit to Paris.
