The Miraculous Louvre

It's impossible to visit France and not to attend one ofdetails.
the main attractions of the French capital - the Louvre.The Winged Victory of Samothrace (a Greek
The biggest and the most famous world museum wasgoddess Nike) is a statue of a stunning beauty. It is
opened to public on August 10, 1793. Before that itcreated with such an unsurpassed skill that it looks
used to be a private museum available only to the elitealive. The Victory is one of the great surviving
of the court. The palace, where the museum ismasterpieces of sculpture from the Hellenistic period,
situated, is more than 800 years old, being initially adespite the fact that the figure is significantly damaged,
fortress of Philip Augustus. Today there is a specialmissing its head and outstretched arms. The sculpture
exhibition devoted to this page of the museum history.is thought to date from the period 220 to 190 BC. The
Works of all historical epochs and art currents (up tostatue stands on a rostral pedestal of gray marble
the XIX century) are represented in the Louvre. Therepresenting the prow of a ship, and figures the
Italian collection, which is considered to be the bestgoddess as she descended from the skies to the
outside the limits of Italy, has always attractedtriumphant fleet. Rendered in white Parian marble, the
connoisseurs, tourists and artists from all over thefigure originally formed part of the Sanctuary of the
world.Great Gods.
The Louvre obtained its present look in 1871 and for aVenus de Milo is the most popular statue of the
long time it remained unchanged, until in 1981 Francoisantique Goddess of Love in the world. It owns the
Mitterand started a large-scale reconstruction. This isname to the fact that the statue was found in 1820 on
when the famous glass pyramid was built. The newestthe Milos Island. Initially it was considered to be a
Paris sight is much disputed about. Its author Leoh Mingmasterpiece of the 5th century BC, but later the
Pei placed it in the Napoleon Court. There's a definitescientists identified that it is much younger. But that
logic in this act as Napoleon is the man who revealeddidn't lessen people's love for the statue.
the charm of Egypt to Europe. It's necessary to bearMona Lisa by Lonardo da Vinci is the most mysterious
in mind that one should talk to Parisians about theand probably the most popular work in the world. It is
Pyramid very carefully. To praise it means to show noconsidered to be a portrait of a Florentine lady. But
taste, and criticism of it can be regarded as an insult tothere are many other versions about the personality
the national feelings of the Parisians.depicted, according to some of them it is not even a
By the way it is probably the only sight of the Louvre,woman. New sensational "clues" to the mystery of her
which is available for a detailed examination, especiallycharming smile appear every day. But no one can
in the high season, when the queues into the museumreally understand what emotions hides the picture
are really fantastic.painted in the sfumato technique, so adored by
Inside the building one can easily lose his head becauseLonardo da Vinci.
of a multitude of the exhibits. There are more thanThe ladies are not the only attractions of the Louvre. It
400,000 of them (although not all are on display ofis filled with masterpieces that enrapture and amaze.
course). The most famous are three of them: TheOnce visited the museum, you'll want to come back in
Joconde - Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Wingedthe one of the first European museums time and time
Victory of Samothrace. Let's talk about the Ladies inagain!