I was able to squeeze out five and a half hours running around like a rabbit from one exhibit to the other. Five hours at the Musée du Louvre is not enough. It’s not even close to enough. You could spend weeks there and by the time you finish, there might be something new at the museum! This was my first time in Paris and while I had been wary of the clichés I’d heard and seen a thousand times on television and in films, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Paris is so much more.
All photographs here are outside and inside the Louvre Museum. There was a little more of Paris that I photographed, that was mostly focused on the Eiffel Tower and I will follow up with that photo story soon enough. Till then enjoy this ride!
For most of our stay in Paris, it was grey and rainy. On the day of the museum visit though we got lucky with a bit of blue sky and Sun.
I absolutely love the photograph above. The colors and the symmetry. I don’t know any of those people but they are very representative of the people who visit the museum.
Above right : Throne d’un Pretre de Bacchus ( Throne from Bacchus from the Vatican Collection )
Isn’t the winged lady beautiful? The Winged Victory of Samothrace. The Greek goddess Nike.
Above : Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman, also known as Giovanna degli Albizzi Receiving a Gift of Flowers from Venus by Botticelli.
Above : Photography session at the museum at the Queen’s Court, which was closed for renovation at the time.
Fresco above : The Allegory of the Liberal Arts.
Above : The Annunciation, 1335
Above left : Madonna and Child, 1470
Above right : Portrait of a Young Man, Italian, 1470, Botticelli (1445-1510)
Above left : La Vierge et l’Enfant entourés de cinq anges by Botticelli, 1470
Italian Renaissance. Both above : St. John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci.
I love these guys above. What with all the finger pointing and the hundreds of meanings art historians and researchers have probably assigned to it. I paint once in a while and most time the result is more based on the best I could do than a pre-determined meaning I had in mind. Most of my work evolves on the fly.
Above : Pittura italiana del XVI secolo
Above : Pittura italiana del Cinquecento
The Mona Lisa above and the absolutely crazy crowds that want to see the painting. Speculation is always rife whether it’s the real thing or a replica – I think there are far too many other works of art that are as stunning if not more. It’s just that Mona Lisa has always had the hype – great marketing!
Above, detail from the full painting below : The Young Martyr by Paul Delaroche. LOVE it.
Such beauty! Above : Dante and Virgil Encountering the Shades of Francesca de Rimini and Paolo in the Underworld, 1855
Above : Les Deux Soeurs ( The Two Sisters ), 1843
Beautiful sculpture of Saint Mary Magdalene. All wood.
Above : Detail from Hercules Battling the Hydra, north Italian, 16th Century ( full sculpture below right ).
Above : Mercury.
Above right : Bust of Antonius (Antinoüs), the favorite of Hadrian, 2nd Century AD
Above : Fontaine aux Satyres. The water-holding part of the fountain was held by the Satyrs on their bent arms and nape of the neck / shoulders. Stunning sculpture.
Above, the Albani Lion in green basalt and yellow marble.
Above left : Jupiter of Versailles, Roman, 2nd Century AD
Above right : Captive representing Spain, Martin Van Den Bogaert, 1685 ( from the sculpture below ).
Do not forget to look up! Stunning chandeliers.
Everything was absolutely stunning in the very well-preserved Napoleon III Apartments.
Above : Napoleon III (1808-1873) ruled 1852-1870 until the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War.
One of the bracelets of the Duchess of Angoulême. Rubies and diamonds.
“This pair of bracelets was originally part of a parure, a matched set of jewelry, which was crafted from a parure executed in 1811 by the Maison Nitot for the Empress Marie-Louise (1791-1847). When he took the throne, Louis XVIII (1755-1824) had the imperial jewels unmounted to adapt them to current fashion. In 1816 Pierre-Nicolas Menière reset the rubies and diamonds of Marie-Louise for the Duchess of Angoulême (1775-1851).”
There’s an entire shopping district below the Louvre and you can get the tastiest macarons and ice cream after you’re exhausted touring the museum. I also absolutely busted my budget at the Fragonard store. Sorry not photos because I was too busy picking out fragrances from their vast collection!
Musée du Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. During heavy tourist season, queues to get tickets are VERY long. You can also get your tickets online on their website.
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Other cities I’ve covered / traveled to in Europe – lots more being updated regularly.
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4 comments
the Albani Lion in green basalt and yellow marble, it’s reminiscent of a green lion consuming the sun isn’t it?
Now that’s something I didn’t think of! And what a reminiscence! Green Lion consuming the Sun! Brilliant!
Have you seen Lion Headed statue of Aion? it is in Musei Vaticani, Rome (Italy) but it was in the Albani collection, two interesting lions.
I did visit the Vatican but cannot recall whether I saw the statue. Will dig through my archives and figure out if I have a photo and then blog about it too! Thank you Eon!
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