The Louvre
The Louvre is a museum in Paris, France. It is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). The Louvre was originally a 12th-century fortress. The stone walls of the fortress can still be seen in the basement.
The Louvre was the residence of the King of France in Paris for centuries. Since the French Revolution, it has been a museum with one of the greatest collections of art and other objects in the world. The museum exhibits nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).
As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. Renowned works of art in the museum's collections include the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Venus di Milo.
 |
Visual Arts Portal — All articles about the visual arts! |