Louvre part 1

The Musée du Louvre 

  in English the Louvre Museum is one of the world's largest museums,the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument  
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II.


Remnants of the fortress are still visible. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace.

In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of antique sculpture.

In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years.


During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.
The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being confiscated church and royal property.

Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801.

The size of the collection increased under Napoleon when the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon.

After his defeat at Waterloo, many works seized by Napoleon's armies were returned to their original owners.

The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X,

and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic, except during the two World Wars.


As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments:

1. Egyptian Antiquities
2. Near Eastern Antiquities
3. Greek, 
4. Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities
5. Islamic Art; Sculpture
6. Decorative Arts
7. Paintings
8. Prints and Drawings

i went already twice to this museum ,but i was so amazed by so much art ,and cultures i feel very saturated ,i don't know from where to start ,or what to talk about
The good part when you are France is that if you are a student you are lucky you have a free access ,children have free access to all museums ,

you can make an annual suscription also
less the 26 years old you pay only 15 Euro for a suscription of a 1 year which amazing if it happens to be that you are an art student

age between 26 to 29 : 30 euro

and Friday night is free access if you are less then 26 years old
this is just so great

Now i understand what my French boss used to always say ,Paris is a good place for you artist like you need to be there .life is really so funny

here just couple of photos ,a glimpse of what i have seen in the period of the 2 time visit ,surely i will try to visit as much as i can and i will share my experience with all of you