The Louvre It is a huge museum where you can find thousands of works of art. So even if you want to – you won’t be able to see them all (unless you go toParis And pay an annual subscription.) The question arises: How can you visit the Louvre and find works of art that will amaze and move you, and on the other hand, conduct a proper visit and not fall for clichés such as the Mona Lisa?
To my great delight, I had the opportunity to listen to a lecture on the Louvre Museum as part of the lecture series. The art treasures of Paris by Dr. Efi Ziv. In this lecture, Dr. Ziv recommended a series of wonderful, lesser-known works of art that he believes are absolutely not worth missing. Since I agree with every word he said, I am happy to bring you his recommendations here.
Before we begin, let me quote another recommendation from Efi Ziv: In order to prevent yourself from “art poisoning,” it is highly recommended to buy the Museum card Valid for a few days. That way you can enter the museum every day for an hour or two at most and maximize your enjoyment (any more than that and you'll get a headache, I promise).
Works of art that you simply cannot miss
Statue of Milo from Croton by Pierre Puget
The statue, which is located right at the entrance to the Richelieu wing, tells the story of Milo of Croton. Milo was such a strong athlete that he could cut wood with his bare hands. One day, while doing so, his hand got stuck in a tree and, unable to move, he was devoured by a lion. Pierre Fouget, who was influenced by Bernini, created a sculpture here with an amazing level of precision (note the lion's claws, which are embedded in Milo's flesh) and although it is not a famous statue, it is one of the most moving works in the Louvre.
The Madonna and the Royal Counselor Roland by Jan Van Eyck (1390-1441)
In the Richelieu wing you will find a long line of Flemish paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries. One of the most beautiful is Van Gogh's painting, depicting the Duke's advisor. Burgundy The man praying in front of the Madonna and the baby Jesus. Van Hyck is considered one of the early painters of the Flemish school, and as you will see in this painting he achieved an amazing level of detail. It is highly recommended to stand in front of the painting for at least ten minutes to pay attention to both what is happening in the room with the figures and what is happening outside the window. I promise you will be left with your mouth open.
Braque's Triptych by Rogier Van der Weyden (1399-1464)
Another beautiful Flemish work, which is definitely worth seeing. This is a triptych (a painting consisting of three separate paintings), painted by a follower of Van Gogh in honor of a nobleman named Jean Braque from the city of Tournai. Here too, the level of detail of both the figures and the backgrounds is simply amazing, so it is worth looking at this picture at a leisurely pace and not in a hurry (as quite a few tourists do, running from painting to painting).
The Money Changer and His Wife by Quentin Matsys (1466-1530)
Another Flemish School piece that is simply not to be missed. As with the previous two pieces, the level of detail in this painting is simply amazing. Note the coins, the pearls, and most importantly, the man by the window peering at you from the mirror on the table.
The Wedding at Cannae by Paolo Veronese (1528-1588)
It's the largest painting in the Louvre, and yet hardly anyone notices it. Why? Because, unfortunately, it's in the Mona Lisa's room.
It's a shame, because this is a spectacular work. The work depicts the miracle in which Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding in the village of Cana, and around him you can see a series of colorful figures, with a Venetian-style bell tower in the background. Like the previous works we discussed, the painter manages to get down to the smallest details, both in the painting of the figures and their clothing, and in the painting of the background and columns. You can stand in front of this painting for long minutes and simply enjoy it!
Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio 1571-1610)
Caravaggio is undoubtedly one of the most interesting painters in the history of art, both because of his turbulent life and because of the play of light and shadow and the realism of his paintings. What is interesting about this painting, beyond all the technical issues mentioned here, is the knowledge that Caravaggio used a real body for the purpose of painting. It is said that he heard about a prostitute who drowned herself in a river and the night before her burial he sat next to her and painted her with precision in order to make her the model for the Virgin Mary (the mother of Jesus) in the painting before you.
The Life Cycle of Marie de Medici and Henry IV by Peter Paul Rubens (4-1577)
In the Richelieu wing, you can find an entire hall with an entire room dedicated to the life story of the Queen. France Maria de Medici (1575-1642). This is a series of huge paintings commissioned by Maria de Medici from Rubens after her husband was murdered. These paintings were initially exhibited inLuxembourg Palace And later they were transferred to the Louvre.
What is fascinating about these paintings, beyond Rubens' wonderful technical abilities, is that they combine history and mythology. For example, in the painting I have included here, you can see Henry IV looking at the portrait of Marie de Medici, and above them, on a cloud, Zeus and Hera are sitting, watching the action. In short, one of the most recommended rooms in the museum for both history lovers and mythology lovers.
The Oath of the Horatian Brothers by Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)
After Flemish and Italian painters, the recommendations section cannot be completed without one French painter. In this very dramatic picture, we can see three sons of the Horatius family, who swear to fight to the death against the people of the city of Alba, the enemy of the city of Rome. Here we can see Jacques-Louis David in all his glory as he depicts on the one hand the brothers, only one of whom will return alive, and on the other hand their sisters mourning their imminent death.
And if you've come this far, don't miss the most famous painting by that artist, which is the Coronation of Napoleon.
The portrait of Descartes
René Descartes was one of the most important philosophers and mathematicians of France in particular and Europe in general (he died in Sweden after Queen Christina made him come to her for private lessons early in the morning, which caused him to catch a cold and develop pneumonia). I really like portraits, and this portrait in particular, both because of the painting technique and because of Descartes' penetrating gaze that the painter was able to capture with great skill.
Changing exhibitions
In addition to all the above recommendations, the Louvre has temporary exhibitions, some of which are definitely not to be missed. If you are planning to visit there, it is highly recommended to visit the page Recommended exhibitions in Paris museums you don't want to miss I update it every few months. Whenever there is a particularly interesting exhibition at the Louvre, I will write about it on this page, so it is recommended to “cut and save” the page and return to it before your trip to Paris.
Viewing works of art virtually
If you can't make it to the Louvre but still want to enjoy its works, even for free, you are welcome to enterLouvre website And enjoy one of the virtual tours there.
You've finished visiting the Louvre. What do you do next?
The Louvre Museum's central location allows you to quickly and easily reach some of Paris's main attractions. Here are some ideas for those who are still feeling a little tired after an intense visit to this museum:
If all this wasn't enough for you, you are welcome to check out my article onAttractions in the 1th arrondissement Or cross the Seine and check which Existing attractions in the 6th arrondissement.
In short, I promise you won't be bored 🙂
An enriching and very helpful article
Thank you very much 🙂
In my undisputed opinion, the best work in the Louvre is, The Jellyfish Raft By Theodore Jericho.
You can spend hours in front of it.