The Musée du Louvre is one of the world’s best art museums and a main landmark of Paris, France. It accommodates about 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century that are displayed over an area of 60,600 square meters.
World’s largest museum the Musée du Louvre was a fortified palace of king of France, Philip II in the 12th century. The word ‘Louvre’ also refers it as the largest structure in late 12th century Paris. In 14th century king Charles V adapted it into a residence and in 1546, Francis I refurbished it into French Renaissance style. Till mid of 18th century there were number of proposals to transfer it into a public gallery. On October 14, 1750, Louis XV agreed and approved a display of 96 pieces from the royal collection that were emplaced in the Galerie royale de peinture of the Luxembourg Palace.
In 1776, comte d’Angiviller suggested the conversion of the Grande Galerie of the Louvre into the “French Museum”. Finally during the French Revolution, National Assembly announced to use Musée du Louvre as a museum, to display masterpieces. Museum inaugurated on 10 August 1793 with spectacular display of 537 paintings. Till 1801 it again remained closed.
During Second French Empire, museum gained total of 20,000 pieces. Till 2008 the collection was categorized into eight curatorial departments as such:
Near Eastern Antiquities
This gallery is divided into three geographic areas: Mesopotamia, Levant and Persia (Iran).
Egyptian Antiquities
This gallery accommodates over 50,000 pieces and includes artifacts from the Nile civilizations and displays Egyptian life.
Greek, Roman, Etruscan
It showcases pieces from the Mediterranean Basin that date back to the 6th century.
Decorative Arts
The most precious pieces in this department are pietre dure vases and bronzes.
Prints and Drawings
The works done on paper are stored in this section.
Paintings
It contains 6,000 painting works and is managed by 12 curators.
Islamic Art
Thirteen centuries and three continents’ Islamic art collection is stored in Islamic art department.
Sculpture
This department also includes admirable sculpture pieces.
Due to some of the world’s finest art pieces including Mona Lisa painting and Venus de Milo, Musée du Louvre is world’s most famous museum and ranks among the top ten world’s best art museums as well. Don’t forget to visit Hawaii Paradise on Earth.
