raleighsheffield:
The Louvre
raleighsheffield:
It's a quiet early Sunday morning, walking to McDonalds for breakfast, but mainly for the coffee. Today is Museum day, first the Louvre and then the Orsay. Need some real fortification for this day, just to cope with the crowds. Two cups only!
raleighsheffield:
See what I mean a about the crowds? The place just opened!
raleighsheffield:
This used to be a palace. Who needs this much room? Shucks Warren Buffet has a modest ranch style house..... in Omaha no less.
raleighsheffield:
OK. Let's go in and start walking. We enter under the pyramid which was designed by American architect I. M. Pei. While very controversial when completed in 1989, it has become a landmark of the city of Paris.
raleighsheffield:
With most of the photos that follow I have failed to include a plaque telling us what I saw. Just know everything is pretty special, no say the least
raleighsheffield:
Wow
raleighsheffield:
At least I know Venus de Milo
raleighsheffield:
This is a copy of the Greek bronze, Athena. It was found in the ruins of a Roman villa in 1797. The new owner made significant restorations including adding hands, feet, the straight arm and the snakes. It has been in the Louvre since Dec. 1803
raleighsheffield:
The building is as spectacular as the exhibits
raleighsheffield:
Beautiful but wouldn't want to vacuum it!
raleighsheffield:
Well, you get the idea. It's old.
raleighsheffield:
Melpomene, muse of tragedy holds the mask of tragedy. Statue was restored with the addition of of the mask. Roman artwork about 50BC. Is is thought this might have been part of the Theater of Pompey in Rome
raleighsheffield:
Winged Victory of Samothrace is a Hellenistic sculpture created about the 2nd century BC. It is one of a small number of original Greek sculptures and not a Roman copy. Described as the greatest masterpiece of Hellenistic sculpture. At Louvre since 1884
raleighsheffield:
Boy this work would have you flat on your back for sure!
raleighsheffield:
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. 8.5 million annually. Luckily only about 10% of that number showed up when I was there!
raleighsheffield:
Beginning to see just how large this place is? Mona Lisa is close by.
raleighsheffield:
Of course religious subjects dominate
raleighsheffield:
And here she is. No the room wasn't empty. Quite the contrary but I was taller than the Asian throngs and my recently found zoom came through
raleighsheffield:
Religious themes
raleighsheffield:
Napoleon crowns himself. No one was worthy of such as task, even the perturbed Pope to the right in white who had made the trip from Rome to do just that.
raleighsheffield:
Le Deluge
raleighsheffield:
Feel free to enlarge on your device and see the detail
raleighsheffield:
The Raft of the Medusa by Gericault was painted in 1818-1819. It depicts a moment after the wreck of the French naval frigate Medusa. 147 people were set adrift on a hurriedly built raft. All but 15 died in the 13 days before their rescue
raleighsheffield:
The Rebellious Slave by Michelangelo. 1515. Slave on right know as the Dying slave is apparently in a deep sleep while the other, the Rebellious Slave, seems to be involved in a violent struggle.
raleighsheffield:
Saint Paul the Hermit painted by Jusepe de Ribera. This depicts Paul who to escape persecution as a Christian, fled to the desert of Egypt and lived to be 100. Look carefully in the right background for the raven that brought food to Paul.
raleighsheffield:
Statue of "Hercules fighting Acheloos transformed into a snake" 1824. Sculpturer, Francois Joseph Bosio. Saw this impressive piece in a covered courtyard
raleighsheffield:
Here is the lovely courtyard populated with many statues and finally, very few people. This was the way I exited the Louvre after a quick three hours. It took me ten minutes to find the exit though. Ok, lunch then the Orsay Museum