Explore the Wonders of the Louvre

The Louvre, which lies in the center of Paris between the Seine and the Rue de Rivoli, is the foremost French museum of art - in fact, it is regarded as the most well-known art museum in the world. The Axe Historique, a famous line of monuments and buildings, springs from the central courtyard of the Louvre and continues west from the Champs Elysee.

Construction on the Louvre began during the reign of Philippe II in 1190. The original buildings on this site were intended for use as a palace and fortress - when built, they protected the city of Paris against Viking invasions from the west. The Louvre first became of a palace of the arts during the reign of Charles V. Unsatisfied with the current building, the Louvre was torn down and rebuilt during the reigns of Francois I and Henri II. Designed by the architecht Pierre Lescot, the new palace was designed in a Renaissance style that was innovative in its day.

At the invitation of Francois I, Leonardo da Vinci moved to Paris in 1517, bringing his landmark painting, the Mona Lisa, with him. This painting began the collection that now numbers 35,000 works of art. The French love affair with art continued was continued when King Henri IV invited hundreds of artists and craftsmen from around the world to live within the Louvre, marking this site the center of the artistic world. The tradition of artisans living within the Louvre continued until ended by Napoleon some 300 years later.

The Louvre was officially opened as the Musee Central des Arts in 1793, during the French Revolution. It was renamed and proclaimed as the Musee Napoleon in 1803. Throughout that time, and through the next hundred years, the Louvre constantly changed in appearance. Eventually, buildings were constructed by Napoleon III to connect the museum to the Tuileries Palace, which was later replaced after a fire by the Tuileries Gardens. The most recent dramatic change occurred in the early 1990s when a large glass pyramid was constructed in from of the museum to serve as both a focal point and entrance point to the reception hall and temporary exhibit spaces.

As a museum, the Louvre holds both the heritage of the French people, as well as well-known and precious artifacts from around the world. Long managed by the French government, the Louvre has gained powers of self management in order to best protect and plan for their continued growth. The massive collection, which includes the works of da Vinci, Rembrandt, Poussin and David, among many others, is housed in exhibit space totaling 60,000 square meters. Eight departments comprise the museum, including Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Painting, and Prints and Drawings.

Besides the Mona Lisa, whose mysterious smile has enchanted visitors for centuries, one of the more famous exhibits at the Louvre is the Venus de Milo. This ancient Greek sculpture, depicting the Greek goddess of love, dates to around 130 BC. Discovered in 1820 on the island called Melos, it was presented to Louis XVIII as a present and made part of the collection of the Louvre.

The Law Code of Hammurabi, dating to Babylon in the Mesopotamian civilization around the 18^th century B.C. is not only a work of art, but also a symbol of history and literature, and the most complete legal source of ancient times, dating earlier than Biblical laws. Written in cuneiform, criminal and civil matters such as family law, slavery, divorce, prices and salaries and agriculture are discussed in detail.

Other famous works of art contained within this museum are the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Ship of Fools, Lady of Auxerre, Vermeer's Lace Make, Holbein's Portrait of Erasmus, and the Wedding Feast at Cana. Michelangelo's Dying Slave, original began as a project for the tomb of Pope Julius II, remains unfinished, as is it's companion piece, the Rebellious Slave. The Marly Horses, two giant marble sculptures, present a picture of man versus nature, as grooms struggle to restrain the powerful horses. The Theodore Gericault work The Raft of the Medusa depicts the infamous French shipwreck eventually the focus of much scandal. Among the more famous artifacts are the Jewels of Rameses II and the Seated Scribe.

Used as the setting for the book The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown, a scene is depicted in which illicit entry is made into the Louvre. In real-life, a theft occurred in 1911 that left the Mona Lisa missing for more than two years. After a widespread search and the questioning of many suspects, including Pablo Picasso, it was discovered that the painting was removed beneath an employee's coat on his way home from work.

Enjoy your exploration of the Musee du Louvre, but remember to leave the Mona Lisa at the door!