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TRAVEL: The Louvre Museum in Paris

August 28, 2008 – 12:17 pm

Travel to France
The Louvre Museum is one the biggest museums of the world. It is very famous all around the world. The Louvre Museum is located in Paris, France. The original name of the museum is Musée du Louvre.

Once upon a time, being a palace, the building was converted into a museum. The Louvre Museum was opened in the year 1793. It has a rich collection. Paintings and sculptures are displayed in Louvre.  The collection consists of more than 35.000 pieces.

The Museum Louvre is very close to the river Seine. The building keeps its originality. However, after 1980s, Louvre Pyramid made of glass was added to the building. The Louvre Pyramid is located at the entrance of the Louvre Museum. It creates a magnificent scene and contributes to the atmosphere of history and art.

Departments of Louvre Museum
Due to the rich collection of the Louvre, art pieces were divided into different departments for display. There are eight displaying departments. These are paintings, prints and drawing, sculptures, decorative arts, Greek and Roman, Islamic Art, Near Eastern and Egyptian antiquities.

Paintings department is one of the major departments of Louvre. Works of many famous painters can be found here. The most famous of them is Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. There are more than 6000 works of art. French, Italian and European artists’ works dominate the collection. You can see the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Enguerrand Quarton, Eugene Delacroix, Caravaggio, Johannes Vermeer and many other names.

Prints and drawing department displays the works that are found on paper. More than 100.000 pieces are displayed. Illustrated books, printing plates, paper collection can be seen in this department of Louvre.

There are more than 1500 sculpture works. The building was a palace, there are even sculptures staying from that period. In addition to that, there are sculpture works of famous names. Ancient, medieval, modern works are available. Michelangelo, Antonio Canova, Jean Goujon are just some of the names whose works are displayed.

Being an art center, decorative art department is an inseparable part of the Louvre Museum. The decorative works were displayed with sculptures. However, it was a great category and it consists of unique works, so a different department named decorative art was opened. Most pieces of this collection belong to noble and wealthy people. Vases, bronzes, ceramics, glass works, all these are displayed in decorative art part.

For the world history and heritage, Greek and Roman always played important roles. Their art works are displayed in a special department dedicated to them. This department consists of different Greek and Roman works. From marbles, ceramics, frescoes, to metals, glass works can be found.

The Islamic Art part does not display very old pieces. The works go only back to 3 centuries ago. Especially traditional items are displayed. They are carpets, textile, miniatures, glass and ceramic works.

Near Eastern and Egyptian antiquities are two different departments displaying antique items.
Unique Mesopotamia, Iran and Egypt antique pieces dating back to centuries ago can be seen in these parts of Louvre Museum.

Visit Louvre Museum official website.

Also read about Paris.