What is there to see at the Louvre?

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Rillifane

This is a VERY tough question because there are some 35,000 works of art in the Louvre.

Just to name some highpoints takes a lot of decision making. My suggestions are merely my personal favorites.

Nike of Samothrace (popularly known as "winged Victory"). Probably one of the most stunning vistas in the Louvre is the long staircase leading up to the Nike.

The Venus de Milo. If there is a more famous sculpture from antiquity it is hard to think of what it might be.

La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) is so famous that you must glance at it even tho it is behind bullet proof glass and usually surrounded by hordes of tourists.

The Virgin and Child with St Anne, another Da Vinci is in the same room and usually ignored by the tourists who have never heard of it. Sigmund Freud analyzed this painting to draw a variety of conclusions about the personality of Da Vinci. read his "Leonardo da Vinci, A Memory of His Childhood. " before you go.

The Raft of the Medusa by ThÃ©odore GÃ©ricault based on a current news story, first appeared in the Paris Salon in 1819 and created a sensation as it depicted with territying reality the story of a shipwreck.

The Coronation of Napoleon I by Jacques Louis David shows that propaganda in art is nothing new. When you see this notice that Napoleon's mother is depicted in the audience. Fact was that she disapproved of her son's decision to have hmself crowned Emperor and refused to come.

Portrait of Louis-FranÃ§ois Bertin by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. This painting of a wealthy bourgoise, a journalist, , businessman, and newspaper owner is fascinating not only for its technical excellence but for the nature of its subject.

Une Odalisque also by Ingres fascinates me because of the ability of the painter to draw an anatomically incorrect figure and yet convince us that it represents a perfection of beauty. (check out the lines of the legs...they are impossible)

The Madonna and Child in Majesty Surrounded by Angels by Cimabue. This is a work that begins the transisiton from the earlier byzantine iconographs which were strictly hierarchical and tended to show the figures in stiff and unaffected postures. Cimabue introduces an element of naturalism.

iloho

Dear dear, what a question. I am sorry I have no time to write a book! The Louvre is just the Biggest Museam in the world. It would take you 3 DAYS to go through all the sections!

Aside from the most famous: Mona Lisa, the Venus of Milo, and of course the famous section on Egypt... There are Thousands and Thousands of relics of culture gathered for centuries!

You can go on the most recent Da vinci code tour if you like, but my advice is either make a list of things you want to see and take time to plan your iteniary, or stay there for 3 days and see everything (exhausting, you end up not appreiating the items anymore) not to mention that the Musee d'Orsay, an art peice itself is just mins walk away and has other treasures!

One small tip though, if you go on the first sunday of the month, entrance to all museams are FREE!!! however expect a big crowd!

So aside from giving you the most famous attractions, the rest depends on your taste. The museam is very well organized by section, so maybe a good idea would be instead of visiting individual peices you visit by theme (like the egypte section) or midieval age, renaissance, roman... ect.

thor_gare

Oh my! I would suggest u to take a 3day pass when ur at The Louvre.They consist of 3wings featuring different things.U can actually spend 1whole day in 1wing itself as its so huge.The paintings are hung all over the walls,ceilings, u can find magnificent statues,even napoleon's apartment ( the furnitures etc ) .So much to see,u wudnt wanna miss it if u ever visit the Louvre.U might wanna check the sites below for more info.Oh also u might wanna eat before u enter as u cant get a cafe while ure halfway thru the exhibits.U wudnt wanna go hungry & find an exit to eat then return coz u might lose ur way in there!Things to see :- infamous Mona Lisa,venus de milo,Winged victory of Samothrace etc. Plus if u have read the Da Vinci code or watched the movie, wud be cool to see "where" they have shot the movie..etc..Have fun!

ericbryce2

The major works that are in the Louvre are of course the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milos and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. If you are interested in works by the Dutch Masters there are works by Vermeer and Rembrandt. If you are into ancient Egyptian artifacts there are many including the Seated Scribe. The Louvre is huge and will take most of a day to see. Get the latest Michelin Guide and check out the section on the Louvre. It's the best of the guide books.

ebuyfaxe1

mona lisa

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