AT A QUICK GLANCE THE TWO WORD ANSWER TO “WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO SEE IN THE LOUVRE?”
WOULD BE THE MONA LISA.
Although Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is the most famous painting present in this former royal palace there are plenty of other paintings and artifacts people should go out of their way to visit on a day trip to the Louvre. Besides there is so much security around this picture that people may find it difficult to get a good view of it. There will be tips on the other pieces you may want to view before and after joining the crowds trying to get a reasonable view of the Mona Lisa. Avoid the most popular works at peak visiting times, it will increase the time left to explore other parts of this extremely large museum. It was extensively remodelled in the 1980s to make better for tourists to visit, and for exhibits to be protected or maintained.
The art collections housed and displayed at the Louvre were originally began by the French monarchy and became state owned after the French Revolution, in 1793. Since then the French state has continued to add to the art that could be viewed on a day excursion to the Louvre. There are fine examples of Renaissance, Enlightenment, Realist and Romantic art to be experienced and seen as you walk along the different corridors and galleries. They even put glass pyramids outside in the 1980s, which have provoked a mixed reaction over the years. The main entrance has the largest of the pyramids in front of it. This is a guide to the Louvre Secret and the Best that the Louvre has to offer. Take a tour of both art and history on the same day, taking in all of the sights and sounds. Then there is the array of different colors, styles and art forms to be experienced walking around the vast areas of this museum.
One very useful tip to gain more time for a visit to the Louvre (or any of the other major tourist attractions in and around Paris) is to book tickets online in advance. The museum estimates that on average it takes 30 minutes to gain entry if collecting online tickets, yet it could take 90 minutes if buying tickets on the day of the visit. Saving an hour means being able to see more fantastic pieces of art, and being able to sample greater amounts of culture and history. It improves the chances of seeing more of the most popular works in this huge gallery. Entry is even quicker for people that have prebooked places on guided tours online.
Timing visits to the museum is the key to seeing as much as possible in a single visit, so avoid lunch times, weekends and school holidays, particularly the summer holidays. The museum staff have recommended Wednesday evenings as being the quietest time for visiting the Louvre. Visitors with young families may have no other choice than to visit at weekends or during the school holidays. For people that do not have time, or the patience to arrange their own tour round the museum there are three types of paid tours. Visitors can opt for the highlights tour (the most famous exhibits), the secrets tour (mysterious exhibits) or the family fun tour. The guided tours are presented by hosts with a great deal of knowledge about the museum. Visitors can also ask questions as the tours progress. Again to save waiting, and to definitely have places on a guided tour book online in advance. On average a guided tour will take three hours. Unguided tours may take longer and visitors may not see as many of the most famous works.
Generations have regarded the Louvre as one of the finest art galleries in the world, it has featured in books, films. TV shows and video games. One common theme among the inclusion of the Louvre in fiction has been the idea of people attempting to steal the Mona Lisa. Another theme particularly in the book and the film the Da Vinci Code is that the Louvre has art that holds secrets. Such references to this famed gallery adds for the high demand for visitors to take a tour round all year round. Decide to take a guided tour or go round by yourself. Guided tours provide visitors with extra information, yet unguided tours allow visitors to view everything at their own pace and in any order instead of a set order. First time visitors may find taking a guided tour a better option if they want to learn more, or to see the major works housed in the museum.
There is much to experience in the Louvre, which the French call Le Grand Louvre or the Great Louvre. The site was originally used for a fortress in the 12th century to defend Paris from the threat of English invaders. Francis I had the old fortress demolished to make way for a new palace. The bulk of the palace was built during the regns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Though Louis XIV added to the arts and collections kept at the Louvre he moved the main palace to Versailles, which is certainly worth spending a few hours at too. While the Louvre was being completed efforts were ongoing to increase the art held within it. The art collection of Charles I of England was obtained, while pieces were added from the many French expeditions to historical sites throughout Africa, Asia and Europe between the 18th and 19th centuries. Further works were gained courtesy of the military victories of Napoleon as well as agreements with Venice and the Vatican.
Although the Louvre is best known for housing artistic works from the 14th to the 19th century it also displays thousands of objects from earlier times,including the Venus de Milo and the 4000 year old Monument of King Naramsin. These items are not only interesting as pieces of art, they also provide history lessons as visitors walk through the museum. Being so old it is not known who was responsible for the making of the oldest artefacts though some of the Greek or Roman exhibits were produced by known artists. For example it is known that the Aphrodite of Milos (better known as the Venus de Milo) was the work of Alexandros of Antioch. Walking along the elegant corridors of the Louvre is literally like taking a walk through 4000 years of human history in a single day.
Unlike other museums the Louvre allows visitors to watch how the artistic vision and skills of people developed during the same time span. Simply walk around the Louvre and take in the awe inspiring experience of going through the centuries and take note of human progress. Marvel also at the way the museum manages to display everything in the light, position and angles that present it in the best possible way. Some exhibits will have different levels of lighting to protect the materials they are made of, or are covered in protective glass. Visitors can see what others have been able to view for centuries and appreciate artistic merit across time. Another interesting section was added during the restructuring of the 1980s, and visitors can see the foundations of the castle that the palace was subsequently built on. For people not wanting to follow the crowd of visitors rushing to see the Mona Lisa first, head down to the foundations section and discover the full history of the Louvre itself. It provides further evidence of the sheer scale of this building.
One thing that soon becomes apparent on a visit the Louvre is the sheer size of this former palace, it is not a museum that can be toured quickly. The best way to experience it, especially on a first visit is to go round all of it. Yet there is more to the Louvre than it’s size. Besides being the largest museum in the world it has both a high quantity of exhibits and also a high quality of art pieces. Visitors get to experience quality and quantity, which is not always the case when visiting tourist attractions. This museum has everything that people could ever want to experience in an art gallery. There is art, there are different cultures, and there is a whole lot of history. It makes for a heady mix, and an inviting atmosphere. Visitors can see the greatness that artists and sculpters have achieved over many centuries. Walking along the galleries enables visitors to experience what artists wanted others to view sometimes thousands of years ago.
The Louvre is certainly a museum that visitors can spend the whole day at, and some people will visit it several times to make sure they see, and experience everything. The lighting and the shadows within the museum will alter depending uopn the time of day, and in, which season that people are visiting the Louvre. The museum makes the lighting bright enough for the exhibits to be seen clearly by visitors, and it will be made brighter as day turns into night. Lighting levels are also lowered to protect fragile pieces.
THE MOST POPULAR PIECES OF ART IN THE LOUVRE
The Mona Lisa – the masterpiece from da Vinci simply has to come top of the list. The master brought it to France in 1515 himself. This picture remains a mystery, as nobody knows for sure who the woman in the painting is, and it is the most enigmatic of smiles. Just as people thought it was difficult to raise any more publicity for this picture, Dan Brown had to go and publish his book.
Portrait of Charles I of England as painted by the Dutch artist Anthony van Dyck from 1635. This work demonstrates the artistic skill of the Dutch master, it also hints of the power that Charles wanted to have, yet failed to achieve. Charles happened to be the brother in law of Louis XIII.
DEATH OF THE VIRGIN – MICHELANGIO MERISI DA CARABAGGIO IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF RENAISSANCE ART.
The Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of the Empress Josephine – Jacques-Louis David. Politics is a strange thing, David went from being the best known painted of the Revolutionary era to painting for the empereror. However it is a very good painting all the same.
LIBERTY LEADING THE PEOPLE
this painting by Eugene Delacroix celebrates the French Revolution and has been widely used in books, and even used to represent the spirit of France itself. When viewing this work appreciate it both as a piece of art, and also as a means of displaying national pride. Liberty herself holds the French tricolor in one hand and a gun in the other one.
THE VALPINCON BATHER
by Jean Auguste Ingres was painted in 1808 and shows back of an unknown bather.
THE DYING SLAVE
is a famous sculpture by Michelangelo sculpted between 1513 and 1516. Along with the Rebellious Slave this statue was never finished, and both remain in the marble blocks they were being carved out of
MONUMENT OF KING NARAMSIN
for a monument that is over 4000 years old this is a remarkable piece of art. The unknown artist skilfully showing that the king had a great deal of power and was rightfully feared.
APHRODITE OF MILOS / VENUS DE MILO
trate on their favorite sections. Visiting at quieter times would also allow the visitors to experience the most popular exhibits first and then going to other sections afterwards. Buying tickets online for a quieter time would cut down queueing times even further allowing the maximum amount of time inside the museum.attributed to Alexandros of Antioch this statue of Venus was comleted between 130 and 100 BC. The statue was discovered without arms and there several theories as to how the arms were positioned.
THOSE TEN EXHIBITS ARE AMONG THE MOST FAMOUS WORKS OF ART IN HISTORY
many visitors to the Louvre would be content to spend a whole day just to experience one of these pieces, yet they can view all of these and thousands more exhibits in a single day walking around this world famous museum. Visitors will instantly recognize every one of these works as they walk up and then past where each work is displayed. These are also exhibits that are worth spending extra time walking around and getting better views of, especially if unsure of the possibility of returning to the Louvre at a later date. These ten pieces of art especially the Mona Lisa attract large numbers of visitors around them, so if the crowd around these works are too large then consider viewing other exhibits nearby, and return should the crowds subside enough to get a reasonable view.
SINCE THE LOUVRE OPENED CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO HOW PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES ARE DISPLAYED.
Some changes are due to presentation considerations, and others for practical reasons. Some pieces have been displayed differently in order to have improved security, most notably the Mona Lisa, which is displayed behind security screens. Another reason for changing the lighting is an increased understanding of how to preserve pieces of art as these age, and to avoid damage. Some of the monuments and the sculptures displayed at the Louvre are thousands of years old and could be harmed by excessive levels of lighting, or exposure to sunlight for instance. Generally the lighting is set to levels that will provide visitors with the best light, shadows, and angles to appreciate each exhibit. However more thought is given to how the most popular works are displayed.
Considering the irreplaceable nature of the works housed and displayed at the Louvre it is really important that conservation measures are taken to keep every work in the best possible condition. This means that lighting will be adjusted or needs be, and works can be taken away from display of more urgent restoration work is required. When works are being restored or repaired then the Louvre will provide updates when the work will be put back on public display.
Everywhere in the Louvre there are fascinating pieces of art, yet in a single day visit to this museum there is not enough time to spend appreciating each piece for it’s own merits.
Visitors can head for the most popular works, or they could concentrate on visiting certain sections of they are more interested in certain genres and time periods than parts of the museum.
The Egyptian section is a part of the Louvre that anybody interested in Ancient art and how civilizations developed should definitely visit. Given the amount of gold used by the Egyptians and the vibrant colors they tended to favor this section is one of the brightest throughout the whole museum.
Arranging the exhibits in the Louvre into different themed sections is useful in making decisions regarding what to see and what not to visit in a single day visit to the museum.
The work done at the Louvre from the 1980s onwards means that it is better organized in terms of how it’s extensive collections are maintained and displayed. Dividing the collections in themed sections makes it easier for visitors to plan the art and the exhibits they want to experience as a priority.
People that are mainly interested in Ancient art and history would make a point of going to the sections relating to Ancient civilizations first, while admirers of Romantic artists would make going to the 18th and 19th century sections their priority. Once the sections of greatest interest have been experienced visitors can have a look around the remaining sections in the order of declining interest. By starting at the most interesting sections people can spend as much time as possible experiencing their favorite styles, themes and works without worrying about going around the rest of the Louvre.
PRIOR TO VISITING THE LOUVRE PEOPLE CAN VIEW PLANS OF THE MUSEUM AND TO HELP THEM THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS ARE COLOR CODED.
This allows them to work out their routes from one section to the next, so they could go from the Egyptian section to the Renaissance section by the quickest possible way. Each section presented so that visitors could fully appreciate the works within it without having to experience any other section before it. Visitors do not have to visit the sections in a strictly chronological order to gain the best experience from a whole day walking round the museum. It is possible to experience the museum in such an order, yet many visitors who plan their own tour instead of going on one of the guided tours prefer to make their favorite section or sections the ones to experience first. Each trate on their favorite sections. Visiting at quieter times would also allow the visitors to experience the most popular exhibits first and then going to other sections afterwards. Buying tickets online for a quieter time would cut down queueing times even further allowing the maximum amount of time inside the museum.section is arranged so that works are displayed to look their best, whilst there is enough information to put every piece displayed into artistic, cultural, and historical context. Each section within the Louvre has experts that have specialist knowledge of the works displayed within it.
Deciding on the sections within the Louvre that they do not mind missing out can help visitors make the most of their day exploring the Louvre. For example, visitors could decide to miss out the sections devoted to drawings as they may find these less interesting than the sections displaying paintings, monuments and sculptures. People without an artistic or academic background may also decide that delving into technical drawings is not as interesting as the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo. Missing sections out allows visitors to see what they want to view the most, and means they have no regrets about not seeing anything they consider important or interesting. People who have a single day to look around the Louvre will have to be more selective than those who can come back another day.
For people that are unable to decide about their priorities of the things to view and experience at the Louvre choosing to go on a guided tour may be their better option. With there being three different guided tours to pick from, visitors can opt for the tour that suits them the best. The tour guides share their expertise with the visitors and can provide further insight into certain pieces of art that display boards would not provide. The guides may also point out the techniques of the artists in each section. Another benefit of going on any of the guided tours is that guides can provide further information by answering visitors’ questions. After finishing a guided tour people can always revisit the sections, which they found the most interesting during the guided tour. The guided tours last around three hours and it saves queueing and working out the best times to view popular exhibits.
VISITORS TO THE LOUVRE SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO SAVE BEFORE GOING TO THE MUSEUM.
It is best to book the entry tickets online in advance, and to do the same if choosing to take part in a guided tour. The less time spent gaining entry the better. An hour less in the queue means going to the most interesting sections sooner, and may allow visitors to visit more sections by the end of the day. People who are able to visit the Louvre at quieter times may have the chance to visit all of the sections, or simply concentrate on their favorite sections. Visiting at quieter times would also allow the visitors to experience the most popular exhibits first and then going to other sections afterwards. Buying tickets online for a quieter time would cut down queueing times even further allowing the maximum amount of time inside the museum.
The Louvre is such a large museum that people who have never visited it before will It is best to book the entry tickets online in advance, and to do the same if choosing to take part in a guided tour. The less time spent gaining entry the better. An hour less in the queue means going to the most interesting sections sooner, and may allow visitors to visit more sections by the end of the day. People who are able to visit the Louvre at quieter times may have the chance to visit all of the sections, or simply concentrate on their favorite sections. Visiting at quieter times would also allow the visitors to experience the most popular exhibits first and then going to other sections afterwards. Buying tickets online for a quieter time would cut down queueing times even further allowing the maximum amount of time inside the museum.
The Louvre is such a large museum that people who have never visited it before will not fully realize until they arrive outside it. The sheer scale of the building is impressive in it’s own right, and the corridors are long with lightly colored walls. Lighting is kept at aminimum yet the mueum is well lit all the same. Strong lighting has been avoided to protect the exhibits from damage, while paintings like the Mona Lisa have a layer of flexiglass on top to cut out harmful light. Dividing the Louvre into sections makes it easier for visitors to decide where they want to visit and the best order to visit it in. No doubt having exhibits in different sections allows the staff of the Louvre to maintain exhibits and keep visitors informed easier. Visitors do not have to be art experts themselves to enjoy the experience of spending a day at the Louvre, guided tours will provide them with an expert to ask questions to while viewing some of the most famous art in the world.
Given the sheer size of the Louvre it would be difficult to view every single exhibit yet by deciding on the sections they definitely want to experience visitors can leave the museum without any regrets about missing pieces they wanted to view. Whenever visiting the Louvre prepare to be impressed by what there is to view and to experience, for it is a museum like no other in the world.