Masterpieces of the Louvre - The most famous exhibits of the museum.

Louvre Museum- this is a universal museum, with its size, cultural significance and value of exhibits it competes on equal terms with such giants of world collections cultural values How Cairo Museum, Hermitage in St. Petersburg, British Museum.

To come to and not visit the Louvre is comparable to a crime, but in view of the huge number of exhibits on display without preliminary preparation you can simply get lost among the great variety of beautiful works of art and drown in the crowd of people with cameras, tablets and smartphones and miss the most important thing for which the whole world is rushing to the largest Parisian museum.

The museum's exhibits cover a huge period of time: from art to Western Europe to the Far East, from ancient times to 1848. It is very difficult for an unprepared or poorly trained person to understand all this diversity. We have prepared for such tourists a short tour of the Louvre, covering all the world's most famous masterpieces of the Louvre in Paris, with their locations in the endless exhibitions of the giant museum.

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Code of Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC)

We are talking about a code of laws, including 282 provisions of public and private law, carved in cuneiform on a two-meter stele made of black basalt.

The stela was found in 1902 and transferred to numerous clay tablets. At the top of the stele there is an image of the king receiving from the god the judge Shamash, holding in his hands the symbols of justice, 282 carved laws.

This monument reflects social life inhabitants of Vobylon in the second millennium BC. after the conquest of Mesopotamia with its thriving agriculture and trade, and a highly developed civic sense.

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Seated scribe (2500 BC)

Numerous exhibits in the department of ancient Egyptian art, created by the first researcher of the secrets of hieroglyphs and Egyptology, Jean-François Champollion, tell the visitor about funeral customs the wealthy class of Egyptians, customers of magnificent sarcophagi, as well as about the life of the poorer segments of the population.

In the center of the second hall of Egyptian antiquities is a masterpiece ancient sculpture- “Seated clerk.” This statue, made of painted limestone, is striking in its realism: the scribe, who is preparing to write on papyrus, has a concentrated expression on his face, and an attentive gaze is created using the material used for the eyes - rock crystal (iris) and a strip of copper framing the eyelids.

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This masterpiece of Hellenistic art was found in 1820 on the island of Milos, purchased by the French Ambassador to Constantinople, Marquis de Riviere, and presented to Louis XVIII in 1821. The statue, more than two meters high, is made of Parian marble and dates back to the 2nd century. BC e. In all likelihood, this is one of the copies of the original Praxiteles. The beautiful naked torso of Venus emerges from clothes that go down to the hips; the whole sculpture radiates divine beauty is a goddess in the full meaning of the word, a synthesis of the Greek ideal of beauty and sensuality.

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A masterpiece of Hellenistic sculpture (II - III centuries BC) “Nike (Victoria) of Samothrace” was found in 1863 with its arms and head broken off. The statue was placed on the bow of a stone ship in the sanctuary and, in all likelihood, solemnly celebrated the victory in the naval battle.

The almost baroque movement of the drapery and the power of the body of the 2.75 m high statue, strained by the wind and strong waves, gives the sculpture a unique energy and plasticity.

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In the name Michelangelo Buonarotti(1475-1564), sculptor, architect, painter and poet, marked the entire period of brilliant prosperity of the Italian schools.

In 1505 in Rome, the sculptor began to implement tombstone for Pope Julius II (1513-1514). During the Revolution, two statues donated to Henry II were given to the Louvre Museum, and today it is the only collection outside Italy that houses works by Michelangelo.

The allegorical element predominates in these statues, because the artist, at the request of the pope, had to depict all the arts burdened with bonds, since with the death of the pope they were deprived of free development.

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Work Leonardo da Vinci(1452-1519), a unique result of synthesis artistic creativity with scientific and experimental research, represents one of the highest manifestations of Renaissance culture.

Works Milanese period(1482-1499), including “Madonna of the Rocks” (1483), are characterized by great harmony of style and extraordinary nobility of interpretation, which give power and expressiveness to all images. Among all the figures that fit into the pyramidal scheme, the intangible figure of the Madonna dominates, which seems to disappear into the rest of the components of the picture, and the action is expressed through the faces and hands located around her.

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Venetian artist Veronese(1528-1588) was distinguished by that direct creativity with the help of which it was possible to grasp nature freely and at the same time majestically.

His paintings are bright holidays, transparent, bright, full of animation; this is a whole sea of ​​light that floods everything and burns solemnly on costumes and utensils. In “Marriage at Cana” (1563), as in most of the artist’s works, the plot is dominated by his favorite motifs - pomp, solemnity and splendor of decor, which contradicts the holiness of the chosen theme.

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This work is one of three panels in which Paolo Uccello (1397-1475) depicted the battle of S. Romano, which took place in 1432 between the Florentines and Sienese.

In this panel, executed between 1451 and 1457, the artist carries out his original research in the field of linear perspective. The new direction required a careful study of drawing and the law of convergence of lines, and as a result, the artist found a way and rules for how to arrange figures on the plane on which they stand, and how, as they move away, they should be proportionally shortened and smaller.

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Harmens van Rijn Rembrandt, greatest artist Holland, a giant naturalist, lived a life full of personal tragedies associated with the loss of his young wife, then his second wife and children, which certainly affected his work, which amazes with its endless power and poetry.

The artist most of all values ​​the expression of internal, frozen strength that does not break out, but leads a person to quiet contemplation. The nude “Bathsheba” (1644), which, with her head bowed, holds in her hand a declaration of love for King David, dates back to the second period of Rembrandt’s work. This period is characterized by the simplicity of interpretation of all subjects, a special warm light enveloping all the figures.

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About this masterpiece Leonardo da Vinci Perhaps, so much has already been said that “La Gioconda” has become a symbol of the art of portraiture of the Renaissance.

They talked about the extraordinary subtlety of the drawing and the wonderful modeling of forms, about the mysterious smile and the magical sparkle of the eyes. According to some critics, the portrait depicts the young Florentine Mona Lisa, who in 1495 married the Florentine aristocrat Francesco del Giocondo.

The work dates back to Leonardo's second Florentine period, between 1503 and 1505. The author did not part with this portrait and took it with him to France, where it was sold to Francis I.

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Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot is one of the most important representatives French painting XIX century, a landscape painter who excellently studied nature and painted in original, transparent colors.

New artistic concept the artist is expressed in his portraits, where he tries to reflect the essence through a special coloring real life. The figure of Bertha Kidschmidt, “Woman with Pearls,” is completely immersed in light. The whole figure of the woman expresses infinite calm, and the unusualness of the picture is created precisely by the contrast between the light profile of the foreground and the solid dark background.

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Creation Antoine Watteau (1684-1721), the school he created walked beautifully with its grace and elegance with French society XVIII century. Inspired fantasy world theater and masks, the artist created a series of paintings, including the famous “Gilles” (1719), where the atmosphere of dreams is created with the help of warm colors and soft patterns.

The work amazes with the brightness of its colors and humanity, which shines through the comedian’s pathetic mask.

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Heroes of paintings Jacques Louis David (1748-1825), who reflected the political movement of France in miniatures in his paintings, could only be a citizen. David was one of the best painters of the revolution, and then, with the establishment of the empire, he devoted his talent to depicting the events of the Napoleonic era.

One of the best works of this period is a giant canvas depicting the coronation of the emperor in the cathedral Notre Dame of Paris(1805-1807). The extraordinary balance in the composition, where each of the 150 depicted characters expresses the solemnity of the event in a special way, confirms David’s talent as a portrait painter.

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Freedom leading the people
Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) is one of the best representatives of the French romantic school of painting, who emphasized poetry and color. His paintings, full of realism and drama, are distinguished by their special plasticity and light. His wife also changed
The Flemish artist Quentin Masseys (1466-1530) was the author of a whole gallery of portraits, paintings on religious subjects and charming genre scenes, which placed him among the most significant representatives Flemish school XVI century. Among his best works, we note the painting “The Money Changer and His Wife” (1514), where a powerful spatial and compositional structure gives liveliness and originality to human figures.

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Masterpieces of the Louvre - The most famous exhibits of the museum

The visiting card of the Louvre is the famous Mona Lisa or, as it is also called, the Mona Lisa. It is to this picture that all the signs lead, which the streams of tourists obediently follow. The Mona Lisa is covered with thick armored glass, and next to it there are always two guards and crowds of fans. Once upon a time, Gioconda came to Moscow, but then the museum’s management decided not to take this mysterious beauty anywhere else. So you can admire La Gioconda exclusively in the Louvre. The Mona Lisa is located in the Denon wing in room 7.

Venus de Milo (Aphrodite) is no less famous than the previous beauty. The author of Venus is considered to be the sculptor Agesander of Antioch. This girl has a difficult fate. In 1820, because of her, a heated dispute ensued between the Turks and the French, during which the statue of the goddess was thrown to the ground and the beautiful sculpture was broken. The French collected the fragments in a hurry and... lost the hands of Venus! So the goddess of love and beauty became a victim of the battle for beauty. By the way, Venus's hands were never found, so this story may not be over yet. The armless beauty can be admired in the 16th room of Greek, Etruscan and Roman treasures in the Sully wing.

Another symbol of the Louvre is Nike of Samothrace, the goddess of victory. Unlike the Venus de Milo, this beauty managed to lose not only her arms, but also her head. Archaeologists have discovered many fragments of the statue: for example, in 1950, a brush of the goddess was found in Samothrace, which is now in a glass case immediately behind the pedestal of Nike herself. Alas, scientists were never able to find the head of the goddess. The Nike of Samothrace is located in the Denon wing on the stairs in front of the entrance to the gallery of Italian painting.

Another statue that is the pearl of the Louvre collection is the Prisoner, or dying slave (the work of Michelangelo). The Renaissance master is best known for his statue of David, but this sculpture deserves just as much attention. Denon Wing, first floor, hall No. 4.

The statue of a seated Ramses II is another masterpiece that the Louvre can be proud of. This ancient Egyptian sculpture is located on the first floor in the Sully wing, in the 12th room of Egyptian antiquities.

The Louvre also has a fine collection of Mesopotamian monuments, the heart of which is the code of laws of Hamurappi, written on a basalt stele. Hamurappi's laws can be seen in the 3rd hall of the first floor of the Richelieu wing.

In the 75th room of French painting on the first floor of the Denon wing you can see paintings by the famous French artist Jacques Louis David, which includes perhaps his most famous painting - “Dedication to Emperor Napoleon I”.

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To visit Paris and not visit the Louvre is simply a crime. Any tourist will tell you this. But if you haven’t prepared in advance, you risk getting lost among the crowd of people with cameras, tablets and smartphones and missing out on the most important thing for which the whole world is rushing to the largest Parisian museum. The Louvre is huge and beautiful. You won’t be able to enjoy all of its exhibits even in one day - there are more than 300,000 of them. In order not to get an aesthetic shock from an oversaturation of beauty, you have to make a choice...
"Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci

"La Gioconda" by Leonardo da Vinci is the main exhibit of the Louvre. All museum signs lead to this painting. A huge number of people come to the Louvre every day to look at the bewitching smile of the Mona Lisa with their own eyes. You can’t see it anywhere except the Louvre. Due to the poor condition of the painting, the museum's management announced that it would no longer be exhibited.

The degree of protection of the painting is unprecedented.

The Mona Lisa may not have been so popular and world famous if it had not been stolen by a Louvre employee in 1911. The painting was found only 2 years later, when a thief tried to sell it in Italy. All this time, while the investigation was ongoing, the “Mona Lisa” did not leave the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world, becoming an object of copying and worship.

Today, the Mona Lisa is hidden behind bulletproof glass, with barriers holding back the crowd of tourists. Interest in one of the most famous and mysterious works painting in the world does not fade away.

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Reverse side of the painting. It is impossible to see it, and that is why gossip is constantly circulating in the media about some secret message from the artist to the world and humanity, allegedly written on the back of the Mona Lisa.

Probably everyone knows this, but just in case. This painting is called both “Mona Lisa” and “La Gioconda”. Why? Mona Lisa is short for Madonna Lisa. Gioconda - because the woman's last name was Giocondo. This twenty-four-year-old woman was the third wife of a Florentine rich man named Francesco di Bartolomee del Giocondo.

Venus de Milo

The second star of the Louvre is the white marble statue of the goddess of love Aphrodite. The famous ancient ideal of beauty, created 120 years BC. e. The goddess's height is 164 cm, proportions are 86x69x93.

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According to one version, the goddess’s hands were lost during a conflict between the French, who wanted to take her to their country, and the Turks, the owners of the island where she was discovered. Experts claim that the hands of the statue were broken off long before its discovery. However local residents The islands of the Aegean Sea believe in another beautiful legend.

One famous sculptor I was looking for a model to create a statue of the goddess Venus. He heard a rumor about a woman of extraordinary beauty from the island of Milos. The artist rushed there, found the beauty and fell madly in love with her. Having received consent, he set to work.

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On the day when the masterpiece was almost ready, unable to contain their passion any longer, the sculptor and the model threw themselves into each other’s arms. The girl pressed the sculptor so tightly to her chest that he suffocated and died. But the sculpture was left without both hands.

"The Raft of the Medusa" Theodore Gericault

Today the painting by Theodore Gericault is one of the pearls of the museum. Although after the artist’s death in 1824, representatives of the Louvre were not ready to pay a decent amount for it, and the painting was purchased at auction by a close friend of the artist.

During the author’s lifetime, the canvas caused outrage and indignation: how dare the artist use such a large format not for the heroic or religious plot that was accepted in those days, but to depict a real event.

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The plot of the film is based on an incident that happened on July 2, 1816 off the coast of Senegal. The frigate "Medusa" crashed, and 140 people tried to escape on a raft. Only 15 of them survived and 12 days later they were picked up by the brig Argus. The details of the survivors' voyage - murders, cannibalism - shocked society and turned into a scandal.

Géricault combined hope and despair, the living and the dead, in one picture. Before depicting the latter, the artist made numerous sketches of dying people in hospitals and the corpses of executed people. “The Raft of the Medusa” was the last of Gericault’s completed works.

Nike of Samothrace

Another pride of the museum is the marble sculpture of the goddess of victory. Researchers believe that an unknown sculptor created Nike in the 2nd century BC as a sign of Greek naval victories.

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The sculpture is missing its head and arms, and the right wing is a reconstruction, a plaster copy of the left wing. They tried repeatedly to restore the hands of the statue, but to no avail - they all spoiled the masterpiece. The statue was losing the feeling of flight and swiftness, an unstoppable rush forward.

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Initially, Nika stood on a steep cliff above the sea, and her pedestal depicted a nose warship. Today the statue is located on the second floor of the Louvre on the Daru staircase of the Denon gallery and is visible from afar.

"The Coronation of Napoleon" Jacques Louis David

Art connoisseurs go to the Louvre to see live the monumental paintings of the French artist Jacques Louis David “The Oath of the Horatii”, “The Death of Marat” and the grandiose canvas depicting the coronation of Napoleon.

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The full title of the painting is “Dedication of Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of Empress Josephine at Notre Dame Cathedral, December 2, 1804.” David chose the moment when Napoleon crowns Josephine and Pope Pius VII gives him his blessing.

The painting was created by order of Napoleon I himself, who wanted everything to look better on it than it actually was. Therefore, he asked David to depict his mother, who was not at the coronation, in the very center of the picture, to make himself a little taller, and Josephine a little younger.

"Cupid and Psyche" by Antonio Canova

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There are two versions of the sculpture. The Louvre houses the first version, donated to the museum in 1800 by the husband of Napoleon's sister, Joachim Murat. The second, later version is in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. It was presented to the museum by Prince Yusupov, who acquired the masterpiece in Rome in 1796.

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The sculpture depicts the god Cupid at the moment of Psyche's awakening from his kiss. In the Louvre catalog, the sculptural group is called “Psyche awakened by the kiss of Cupid.” Italian sculptor Antonio Canova was inspired to create this masterpiece ancient greek myths about the god of love Cupid and Psyche, whom the Greeks considered the personification of the human soul.

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This masterpiece of sensuality in marble is undoubtedly worth appreciating in person.

"The Great Odalisque" by Jean Ingres

Ingres wrote "The Great Odalisque" for Napoleon's sister Caroline Murat. But the painting was never accepted by the customer.

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Today it is one of the most valuable exhibits of the Louvre, despite obvious anatomical errors. The odalisque has three extra vertebrae, her right arm is incredibly long, and left leg twisted at an impossible angle. When the painting appeared at the salon in 1819, one critic wrote that in “Odalisque” there are “no bones, no muscles, no blood, no life, no relief.”

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Ingres always, without hesitation or regret, exaggerated the features of his models in order to emphasize the expressiveness and artistic value of the picture. And today this does not bother anyone. "Great Odalisque" is considered the most famous and significant work masters

"Slaves" by Michelangelo

Among the most valuable exhibits of the Louvre are two sculptures by Michelangelo: the famous “Rising Slave” and “Dying Slave”. They were created between 1513 and 1519 for the tomb of Pope Julius II, but were never included in final version tombs.

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According to the sculptor's idea, there should have been six statues in total. But Michelangelo did not finish work on four of them. Today they are in the Accademia Gallery in Florence.

The two completed Louvre statues contrast a strong young man trying to break his bonds with another young man hanging helplessly in them. Michelangelo's defeated, bound, dying people, however, are, as always, amazingly beautiful and strong.

Statue of seated Ramses II

The Louvre has one of the world's richest collections of Egyptian antiquities. A masterpiece of ancient Egyptian culture that you must definitely see with your own eyes is the statue of the famous Pharaoh Ramses II.

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Once in the hall of Egyptian antiquities, do not miss the statue of a seated scribe with a surprisingly lively expression on his face.

"The Lacemaker" by Johannes Vermeer

Vermeer's paintings are interesting because in them researchers find evidence that great artists, starting from the Renaissance, used optics to paint their realistic paintings.

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In particular, when creating The Lacemaker, Vermeer allegedly used a camera obscura. In the picture you can see many optical effects used in photography, for example: a blurred foreground.

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In the Louvre you can also see Vermeer's painting "The Astronomer". It depicts the artist's friend and posthumous steward Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a scientist and microbiologist, unique master, who created his own microscopes and lenses. Apparently, he supplied Vermeer with optics, with which the artist painted his masterpieces.

So, you are in the Louvre. Louvre painting collection– this is about 6000 paintings European artists XIII-XIX centuries. On the ground floor there is a collection of Italian paintings (including the Mona Lisa), on the second - French, Flemish, German and Dutch (you can find the floor plan of the Louvre halls).

Ushakov’s explanatory dictionary offers the following definition of the word “masterpiece”:

If we consider only the first part of the definition, then absolutely everything Louvre paintings can safely be considered a masterpiece - the museum’s collection contains paintings by great European masters. And speaking of exclusivity...

I've always wondered who or what defines the greater or lesser degree“masterpiece” of the picture. Art critics' opinions? Public interest? Or auction prices?

There is a wonderful episode in the film “The Thomas Crown Affair”: schoolchildren were taken on an excursion to a museum. They stand in front of the painting, and the lady guide tries in vain to interest them in the history of the painting and a description of its merits - the children yawn, pick their noses and look at their own shoes. “Oh okay,” says the lady. “Let’s try it differently: it’s worth 100 million dollars!” And American schoolchildren immediately recognize the painting as a masterpiece, denoting it with a friendly “WOW!!!”

But let’s not delve into the jungle of art history - the experts know better what is a masterpiece and what is not. For a simple art lover, his own subjective assessment of “like” or “dislike” is enough. And it is absolutely not necessary to explain why.

Louvre: Italian painting

Leonardo da Vinci "Saint John the Baptist". Painted around 1504, but the artist returned to the canvas more than once. Added to the Louvre collection in 1661. A stunningly beautiful picture, this is probably what angels look like.

Leonardo da Vinci "Saint John the Baptist"

Raphael Santi "Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist." A bright and gentle picture: joy and love, peace and happiness. Presumably one of the first Italian paintings in the Louvre collection, brought to the palace by Francis I in the 1550s.

Raphael "Madonna and Child and John the Baptist"

Tintoretto "Self-Portrait". The artist captured himself at the age of 70: this is a story about his experiences. The painting was purchased for the Louvre by Louis XIV.

Tintoretto "Self-Portrait"

Titian "Woman at the Toilet". Characters of the picture - real people. This is Prince Alfonso of Ferrara, one of the husbands of Lucrezia Borgia and his beloved, daughter of the hatmaker Laura Dianti. The hatmaker's daughter is a good one, isn't she? The canvas was purchased in 1662 by Louis XIV.

Titian "Woman at the Toilet"

Pisanello "Portrait of Ginevra d'Este." Classic profile portrait of the era early Renaissance(XV century). Very popular genre, born in continuation of the tradition of depicting profiles on coins and medals. There is no volume or “physicality” in the portrait, everything is very conventional and decorative, but we see charming girl, who smiles at an unknown interlocutor.

Pisanello "Portrait of Ginevra d'Este"

Botticelli "Portrait" young man» . Entered the Louvre collection in 1888. What kind of sadness is in the young man’s soul? What was he thinking about? Or maybe he's just bored?

Botticelli "Portrait of a Young Man"

El Greco "Saint Louis, King of France, and a Page". Written at a time when the great Greek, after 10 years of work in Italy, had already moved to Toledo. He is considered a master, but given the years spent in Italy, we will still define him as an artist Italian school. His son Jorge Manuel is depicted as a page. The painting joined the Louvre collection in 1903.

El Greco "Saint Louis, King of France, and a Page"

Louvre painting: other schools

Rubens "The Fate of Marie de Medici". The first painting that opens a cycle of 24 paintings dedicated to Marie de' Medici and commissioned by her.

Rubens "The Fate of Marie de Medici"

Rembrandt "Self-Portrait with a Golden Chain". The famous self-portrait of the great Dutchman - how much confidence, how much determination and courage there is in this image! The Louvre owes its extensive collection of Rembrandt paintings to the same thing. Louis XIV, who, after the artist’s death, ordered to buy all his paintings.

Rembrandt "Self-Portrait with a Golden Chain"

Vermeer "The Lacemaker". Masterpiece? Oh yeah! But the artist barely made ends meet, since he could not feed his family by selling his paintings. And after his death he was forgotten for 200 years, until the second half of the 19th century century.

Vermeer "The Lacemaker"

Albrecht Durer "Self-Portrait with Holly". Early work artist - he was only 22 years old. Young, almost woman's face and – pay attention – hands! Strong arms adult man and mature master. The painting was acquired by the Louvre in 1922.

Durer "Self-Portrait with Holly"

Bosch "Ship of Fools". Painted around 1500, donated to the Louvre by Camille Benois in 1918. One of the most mysterious European artists - where did these monstrous caricatures come from during the triumph of reason, humanism and the worship of beauty?

Bosch "Ship of Fools"

Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Cripples". Not as dark as Bosch's, but the grotesque is also obvious. When you look at this picture, it becomes clear where the artists of the 20th century drew inspiration from: no naturalism, distorted reality, conventional forms, and at the same time a powerful image - the theater of freaks.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Cripples"

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres "Bather". A fellow of the French Academy of Painting, a successor to the traditions of Raphael, a fan of beauty and perfection, in the 19th century the artist followed the ideals High Renaissance. We don't see the girl's face, but she is beautiful!

Engr "Bather"

Delacroix "Freedom on the Barricades". The great poster of the French Revolution, an allegory of the union of the bourgeoisie and the people. It was painted in 1831 by order of Louis Philippe, who ascended the throne as king French people. It was he who made the tricolor the national flag of France, replacing the white flag of the Bourbons. The painting was donated to the Louvre in 1942 by Mexican millionaire Carlos Beistegui.

Delacroix "Freedom on the Barricades"

And as a tribute to the monarch who made a huge contribution to the creation of the Louvre collection, the Sun King Louis XIV: Hyacinth Rigaud " Ceremonial portrait Louis XIV"

Rigaud "Ceremonial portrait of Louis XIV"

The world famous Louvre Museum attracts millions of tourists every year. The works of the Louvre are a superbly compiled collection that allows you to trace the entire history of art. There are undeniable masterpieces here that every person who claims to be educated should know and see at least once in his life.

Founding of the Louvre

On August 10, 1793, one of the major museums world - Louvre. The idea of ​​creating a public museum with display arose after french revolution, when it was decided to put the royal valuables on public display. From the day of the revolution, the national government began to confiscate art objects from the aristocracy, and this was the beginning of the museum's collection. Over the course of several years it was collected a large number of valuables, for their exhibition a spacious building was needed, which became

Louvre building

The Louvre's works required a lot of space, and the museum's organizers turned their attention to a large empty palace in the middle of Paris. This building has a long history. The heart of the Louvre is the Great Tower, built back in 1190. Its purpose was purely utilitarian - to monitor the approaching Vikings from above. In 1317, Charles the Fifth made the castle his residence, and the treasury of Paris moved here. Over the years of operation, the old tower fell into disrepair and was demolished, especially since the castle lost its defensive function and became a royal residence. Francis the First entrusted this work to Pierre Lescaut in 1546. He had the task of rebuilding the fortress, making it a real palace. The designer proposes to build a square courtyard, three sides of which are decorated with luxurious apartments, and the fourth is an open exit to the city center. During the architect's lifetime, only the western wing, which today bears his name, was completed. His project was realized by 1555 and became a luxurious example of Renaissance architecture. in 1594, Henry the Fourth decided that it was necessary to connect the Louvre with In 1655-1670, Louis Prevost expanded the palace and quadrupled it. Under Louis XIV, the eastern façade was decorated with a colonnade; it attracted many famous European architects, but in 1682 it lost interest in the project and moved the residence to Versailles. For almost a hundred years, the Louvre has been empty, deteriorating, and even ideas for its demolition are emerging. Louis the Fifteenth thought about creating a museum in the palace; his idea was realized after the revolution.

Under Napoleon the First, the northern facade was rebuilt, and in 1853 the entire Louvre complex was completed. In 1891, the appearance of the palace that we see today took shape. The last significant architectural reconstruction occurred in 1989, when the American architect Yo Ming Pei built a glass pyramid in the courtyard - the main entrance to the museum.

Collections of the Louvre: history and principles of creation

The first works of the Louvre began to be collected under Louis the Fourteenth, who, in the spirit of his time, began to create art collection. The collection was based on paintings purchased by Francis the First. Louis the Fourteenth buys large collection paintings (200 canvases) from the banker Zhabakh. The king is constantly looking for opportunities to add to his congregation. He increased the fund of the future museum to 2,500 paintings and acquired various objects of art. After the revolution, the museum collection begins to be replenished with confiscated valuables. The funds of the Museum of Sculpture are transferred to the Louvre. During Napoleonic campaigns of conquest, the Louvre's funds were actively replenished from trophies and from archaeological excavations in Egypt and the East. Also, the museum management, having its own funds, is working on the selection and purchase of art objects. The collection is not formed spontaneously; the choice of works is determined artistic value, only masterpieces go to the Louvre. Many significant collectors bequeath their collections to the Louvre. Thus, in 1936, the museum accepted a donation of Baron Edmond Rothschild’s collection of graphics, amounting to more than 45 thousand exhibits. Also great attention is devoted to the formation of a French collection national art. Today there are about 400 exhibits in the Louvre, and the collection continues to grow. Due to the expansion of funds at the end of the 20th century, an active redistribution of works of art between museums in France began. The Louvre limited its collection to the date of 1848, and all later paintings were dispersed into other collections.

Today the museum’s collection is conventionally divided into groups: art Ancient East, Ancient Egypt, ancient world, Islamic art, painting, graphics, decorative and applied arts.

Art of the Ancient World

The majority of the museum's holdings are made up of ancient art objects. Works of the Louvre in the department Ancient art represented by several regions. A huge part of the collection consists of objects found during excavations in Egypt, including the famous figure of Ramses II, the “Sitting Cat” sculpture, sphinxes, sarcophagi, ceramics, jewelry and much more, including wall paintings, bas-reliefs, interior elements. The art of the Ancient East is represented by collections of art objects from the cultures of Mesopotamia, Iran, and the Mediterranean.

Masterpieces of ancient sculpture

The basis of the sculpture collection was the acquisitions of Louis the Fourteenth. Today at museum collection there are true masterpieces, such as the Venus de Milo, a sculpture that attracts a lot of visitors. Often tourists come to the Louvre precisely to see this masterpiece. Another significant work from antiquity is the sculpture “Nike of Samothrace,” which was found and brought to Paris by the French archaeologist Champoiseau. Roman period represented a huge amount statues, bas-reliefs, pedestals. Yard antique sculpture in the Louvre, flooded with sunshine through the glass roof, allows you to immerse yourself in a world of harmony and perfection.

Legacy of Leonardo da Vinci

The Mona Lisa painting is of particular interest to tourists and art lovers. Many people come to the museum solely to see her mysterious smile. But besides this, the Louvre can be proud of four more works by the great master. No less significant, but slightly less famous is the work “Madonna of the Rocks”. This work, created in the 1580s, has been in the royal collection since 1625. It is distinguished by an excellently depicted landscape behind the characters; here the author tries out those techniques that he would later fully apply when writing La Gioconda. “Madonna of the Rocks” is the first version of the work on this subject, the second version is in London Museum. The Louvre is also rightfully proud of such works as “Portrait of a Young Woman”, “Madonna and Child and St. Anna" and "John the Baptist".

Masterpieces of world classics

The Louvre is one of them, and its glory, of course, lies in its masterpieces on a planetary scale. These include, first of all, the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci, but also here you can see the epoch-making work of Theodore Gericault “The Raft of Medusa”, several works by Jacques David, in particular, “The Coronation of Napoleon”. The rare work by I. Bosch “Ship of Fools” is also the pearl of the museum’s collection. The Louvre is the proud owner of paintings by S. Botticelli, Raphael Santi, H. Memling, A. Durer and many other authors. In the sculpture department, the undoubted hits are two works by Michelangelo: “The Dying Slave” and “The Rising Slave.”

French art

The collection of national art in the Louvre represents all periods and types of creativity. The collection contains many masterpieces, including, for example, Eugene Delacroix’s painting “Liberty Leading the People.” It accurately conveys the mood that reigned in the country during the Revolution. She became a symbol of the Republic. The country's plastic art is represented, among other things, by the figure of a Greek athlete made of marble. “Milon of Croton with a Lion” is a significant work by the French sculptor Pierre Puget in the style of ancient masters. The work amazes with its expressiveness and power of emotions. “Milon of Croton with a Lion” shows a scene of incredible human suffering, the strength of the athlete and his spirit.

Graphic arts

The graphic collection of the Louvre contains more than 130 thousand exhibits. These halls are mostly not visited by tourists; true connoisseurs of beauty come here. After all, the Louvre collection contains many books, drawings, and prints. best authors peace. Including drawings by H. Rembrandt, J. Chardin, E. Delacroix.

Arts and crafts

The museum is especially proud of its collection of decorative and applied arts. Furnishings, decorations, costumes, utensils different eras presented in several halls of the Louvre. First of all, the apartments of Napoleon III attract attention. Here is the complete furnishing and decoration of the state room in the style of Louis the Fourteenth and Fifteenth. Here you can see luxurious furniture, dishes, and interior items. But the museum also owns excellent examples of weapons and jewelry from the time of the Restoration and the reign of Napoleon the First. Of great interest is the collection of utensils, decorative items and jewelry from the Gothic, Baroque, Italian and French Renaissance. The collection of furniture in the Louvre is one of the best in the world.

What to see

To see all the exhibits of the Louvre, even a few months are not enough, and if you examine carefully, even several years. But, when it is not possible to devote so much time to the museum, you need to think through the route and answer the question: what can’t be missed? There is a developed tour of the Louvre that will allow you to see the most important things. For hurrying tourists, the main masterpieces in the museum are located in the first halls at the entrance, and there are special signs so as not to get lost. But some works worthy of attention are placed in the appropriate sections, for example, Eugene Delacroix’s painting “Liberty Leading the People” is in the collection French art. Therefore, you need to navigate the museum map and find the right room. Schemes are given out at the entrance free of charge in several languages, including Russian.

In order not to get lost in the vast space and see the most important thing, you can use a special list of the main masterpieces, which include: the statue “Venus de Milo”, the sculpture of antiquity - “Nike of Samothrace”, the paintings “The Great Odalisque” by J. Ingres and “The Lacemaker” by J. Vermeer, works by Leonardo da Vinci, statue of Ramses II.

Publications in the Museums section

Russian neighbors of Gioconda: domestic exhibits in the Louvre

In one of the largest museums in the world, of course, there should be Russian works. Who received this honor and how did it happen?

Medieval treasure

Shoulders of Andrei Bogolyubsky. OK. 1170–1180s

A treasure of the 12th century is the shoulder pad of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, also known as the armilla of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. This gilded bracelet, which was worn in an unusual place for us - on the shoulder, is decorated with masterly enamel with a scene of the Resurrection of Christ. The decoration, according to legend, was sent by the emperor to our prince as a gift. Later it was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir, and after the revolution it was sold abroad by the Bolsheviks, and for pennies. In 1934, the Society of Friends of the Louvre purchased it from a Parisian antique dealer and donated it to the museum. A pair of shoulder pads with the image of the Crucifixion ended up in Nuremberg in a similar way.

The oldest icon

Crucifixion. Early 16th century

The Louvre cannot boast of very ancient Russian icons in its collection: the oldest dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. This “Crucifixion” was created in Novgorod, further fate It was not clear until it ended up in the collection of a Norwegian trade advisor in 1927, who apparently took advantage of a sale of church property. Thirty years later, the Louvre purchased the icon, as well as the large “Our Lady Hodegetria,” from him.

Antique Shop Hermit

Simeon the Stylite. 16th century

Another 16th-century icon in the halls of the Louvre is “Simeon the Stylite.” She left Russia in the luggage of the merchant Lev Grinberg, who would later become Leon and head the famous antique gallery A La Vieille Russie, which still exists today. (By the way, it was Greenberg who once bought six Faberge eggs from a Parisian jeweler, which later ended up in the Forbes-Vekselberg collection. Thanks to his enterprise, they were not scattered around the world, and this collection is second only to the Kremlin.) “Simeon the Stylite” in 1956 Greenberg presented it as a gift to the Louvre, the museum also remained grateful - in the same year it bought an icon from him “ Last Judgment» XVII century.

Drifter of the Trinity

Our Lady of the Leaping of the Child. 16th century

The 16th-century Our Lady of the Leaping of the Child, in which Christ so tenderly presses his mother's cheek, is another icon forced into exile thanks to Soviet sales. And before that, her abode was very honorable - the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius! In 1933, it was bought by the permanent representative of the Red Cross in Russia, the Swiss Waldemar Verlaine - just like that, simply by going to Torgsin. The museum bought it in 1955.

Diderot's girlfriend

Dmitry Levitsky. Portrait of Maria Naryshkina. 1773–1774

The path to the Louvre for non-religious works is more varied. For example, the portrait by Dmitry Levitsky depicts Princess Maria Naryshkina, in whose St. Petersburg house Denis Diderot lived during his visit to Russia. She probably gave the guest the painting as a souvenir. Powdered in the latest fashion, the aristocrat is dressed in a curious outer dress in the Polish or Hungarian style, with cords and a hood trimmed with fur. The portrait was painted in 1773–1774 - just then, after the First Partition of Poland in 1772, there was a surge of interest in this style in fashion.

For many years the painting belonged to Diderot's heirs until it fell into the hands of the artist, composer and collector Jacques Zubaloff, a Parisian and Tiflis native, from whose collection it was transferred to the Louvre in 1916. In the past, Yakov Konstantinovich Zubalov, he was a representative of the famous Armenian dynasty of oil industrialists, a philanthropist and philanthropist (there is a Zubalov Hall in the Parisian Petit Palais, and a marble plaque with his name hangs in the Louvre). In his old age he became so poor that both of these museums even gave their former benefactor financial assistance.

Ambassador's nieces with a pug

Vladimir Borovikovsky. Sisters Elena and Alexandra Alekseevna Kurakina. 1808–1812

The young ladies from the portrait of Vladimir Borovikovsky from 1808–1812 are the nieces of the Russian ambassador in Paris Alexander Kurakin (a possible prototype of Prince Kuragin in War and Peace). Princesses Elena and Alexandra, of course, are not as beautiful as Ellen Bezukhova, but they are also surrounded by a trail of stories. For example, Alexandra, being married to Nikolai Saltykov, fell in love with Colonel Pyotr Chicherin, who took her away from her husband and married her, although she never received a divorce. Their children, of course, were considered illegitimate, and an imperial decree was required to give them the rights of legitimate children (and it was issued only after Alexandra’s death). The girls in the portrait are accompanied by a pug - an extremely fashionable living accessory at the end of the 18th century (“I see a pug in every carriage that comes my way,” wrote a contemporary in 1789).

Until the beginning of the 20th century, the painting was preserved in the Kurakin family, and then it ended up in the collection of the banker Abram the Good (the same one whose abduction in 1918 led to the dispersal of the Central Rada by German occupation forces). He died in 1936, and in 1958 the Leon Baratz couple donated several works to the Louvre in memory of him and his wife.