Louvre

(Musée du Louvre)

   The Louvre, known also as the Musée du Louvre, is the national art museum of France and the name of the palace in which it is housed. Located in Paris on the right bank of the seine, until 1682 it was a royal residence and is one of the largest palaces in the world, occupying the site of a 13th-century fortress. In 1546, King francis i began the building of the Louvre based on the plans of pierre lescot. During the reigns of subsequent monarchs, a number of additions were made. Under henry iv, the Grande Galerie was completed; almost three centuries later, under napoléon III, a north wing was added. The vast complex was completed in the mid-19th century and covers more than 19 hectares (48 acres), making it both a masterpiece of architectural design and the largest museum in the world. In 1793, the Louvre opened as a public museum (a project envisioned by louis XVI), and jacques-louis david was made its chief administrator. In 1848, the Louvre became state property. The center of its collection is a group of Italian Renaissance paintings, including several by Leonardo da Vinci that were owned by Francis I. The collection was enriched by acquisitions made by Cardinal Richelieu, Cardinal mazarin, and louis XIV, including purchases from the collection of King Charles I of England. napoléon i deposited in the Louvre many artworks seized during his conquests, especially in Italy, and since then a large number of bequests, purchases, and archaeological artifacts have further enriched the Louvre's collection. Its greatest treasures include the Vénus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and da Vinci's La Jaconde (Mona Lisa). There are also works by Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, and Rubens. Several curatorial departments administer the collection. The Department of Egyptian Antiquities was formed in 1826 to study and display the objects brought back during Napoléon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign. The Department of Oriental Antiquities has a famous Middle Eastern collection. other departments are the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities section, Objets d'Art, and Drawings and Prints. The Department of Paintings is considered by many scholars to be the most important in the world. In 1993, President François Mitterrand opened the Richelieu gallery in the north wing, which had previously housed the Ministry of Finance. Since 1996, the Rohan Wing has housed the fashion section of the museum. The Louvre complex also includes the Carrousel du Louvre, which has the glass pyramid entrance designed by I. M. Pei.