Musée Louvre, Paris
January 12, 2005		 Other Albums
 

A few pictures from our visit to the Musée Louvre in January. This is the view from the inside of the I.M. Pei-designed pyramid at the entrance to the Louvre. The pyramid is a controversial addition to the museum, since the style constrasts with the former palace which houses the museum, but it's certainly impressive. The star attraction of the Louvre is Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" (La Gioconda). Dating to around 1503, the enigmatic smile makes it one of the most famous paintings in the world. Leonardo's use of This is the way that most visitors to the Louvre see the Mona Lisa: through the viewfinder of a camera. There are a few people who take the time to stand and appreciate the actual painting, but it's difficult to do amidst the crush of photographers. Amy contemplates Jusepe de Ribera's "The Deposition of Christ". Ribera was born in Spain but produced most of his works in Italy during the 17th century. Gaspare Traversi's "La Seance de Portrait", dating from 1754. The facial expressions on the artist and the old woman are the most compelling parts of this work by the 18th century Italian painter.
Jusepe de Ribera's "The Adoration of the Shepherds", dating from 1650. "Romulus and Remus Given Shelter by Faustulus", by Pietro da Cortona. According to legend, Romulus and Remus were the founders of Rome. Here they are found by Faustulus, a shepherd, after being nursed and protected by a she-wolf. Guido Reni's "The Abduction of Helen", from 1631. According to history, the abduction of Helen of Troy spawned the Trojan War. At the bottom, a dog (which represents loyalty) and a monkey (representing passion) are fighting, reflecting Helen's internal struggle. "The Fortune Teller", by Caravaggio (1595). The well-to-do man having his fortune read is too distracted to notice that the fortune teller is deftly stealing the ring from his finger. A series of four paintings by Guiseppe Arcimboldo, entitled "Spring", "Summer", "Fall" and "Winter". In each painting, the plant life of the season is used to construct the facial features: flowers for spring, leaves and squash for fall, etc. Leonardo da Vinci has other works in the Louvre besides the Mona Lisa. Here is his painting entitled "Saint John the Baptist (with attributes of Bacchus)" (1513).
"St. Sebastian", by Perugin (1490) St. Sebastian was a recurring theme with the Italian contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci. "Christ Carrying the Cross", by Biagio D'Antonio. (the painting dates from sometime between 1480 and 1520.) "Nike/Winged Victory of Samothrace". This sculpture was found on the Aegean island of Samothrace in 1863. Another view of Nike/Winged Victory. The sculpture is believed to date to between 220 B.C. and 190 B.C., and was most likely done by a sculptor from Rhodes. One last view of Nike/Winged Victory. Here you can more clearly see that she is standing astride the prow of a ship. Nike (properly pronounced The Apollo Gallery. Only recently reopened after three years of renovations, this gallery served as the model for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. It was originally designed as a reception hall for Louis XIV, and now houses the French crown jewels.
These 19th century display cases house the Crown Jewels. Among them are a necklace and matching earrings presented by Napoleon I to the Empress Marie-Louise for their wedding, and which contain 38 emeralds and 1,246 diamonds. The Regent Diamond, with a cut size of 140 carats. Originally called the Pitt diamond (for the original purchaser who had it cut and polished) it is one of the largest diamonds in the world. Napoleon had it set into the hilt of the sword he carried at his coronation. The Louvre also has a very extensive collection of Egyptian art and artifacts. This carving depicts three of the most important Egyptian deities: Osiris, Horus and Isis. Funerary servant of 19th Dynasty Egyptian king Seti I. A troop of funeral servants from various burial ceremonies, primarily from the left bank of Thebes. The figures date back to the 21st dynasty. A fragment from a pillar of a building in Karnak, depicting Amenhotep IV/Akhenaton, ruler of Egypt around 1350 B.C. and husband of Nefertiti.
An Egyptian scribe from around 2500 B.C., found at a tomb in Saqqara. Scribes were the scholars of ancient Egypt, and were generally held in high regard. Last of the "star attractions" of the Louvre: Venus de Milo. Actually a Hellenistic Greek portrayal of Aphrodite (which the Romans called Venus), this statue dates back to around 150 B.C. and was discovered in 1820 on the island of Melos. Amy poses in front of the Venus de Milo. "The Death of Marat", by Jacques-Louis David (1793). Marat was a leader of the French Revolution, and was assassinated in his bath. The timing of this painting (just four years after the revolution and the subsequent Reign of Terror) made it a bold political statement. "The Lion of Florence" by Nicolas-André Monsiau. I think if a lion is calmly making off with your baby, the proper response is to wave your arms in the air until your clothes fall off. A rainy nightfall outside the Louvre. In the distance behind the pyramid you can see the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, while to the right the Champs-Elysses leads off to the Arc de Triomphe and La Defense.
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New Year's Eve 2004
 December 31, 2004
Greg and Amy's Wedding
 July 2, 2004
Wedding Week
 June 30 - July 3, 2004
 

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