| The Louvre is the most famous art museum in the | | | | The Louvre Pyramid is the main entrance of the |
| world. It also has the most number of visitors per | | | | museum. The French president Francois Mitterrand |
| year. It is home to many great works of art that are | | | | hired the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei to |
| historically significant in Western culture. It was | | | | construct the glass pyramid. This was one of the |
| originally built as a royal palace for King Philipp II. The | | | | first renovations from the Grand Louvre Project. |
| architecture is similar to the French Renaissance style | | | | The Louvre houses some of the finest art collections |
| of the famous architect Pierre Lescot. Its use as a | | | | in the world. There are eight departments, which are |
| place to showcase art started at around the time of | | | | as follows: Paintings, Prints and Drawings, Decorative |
| French Revolution. The idea began from the | | | | Arts, Sculptures, Islamic Art, Egyptian Antiquities, |
| Luxembourg Palace in Paris which was then followed | | | | Greek and Roman Antiquities and Near Eastern |
| by the Louvre. | | | | Antiquities. |
| The Louvre originally collected the works or Leonardo | | | | The museum has a collection of almost 12,000 |
| da Vinci and Andrea del Sarto. Extensions of the site | | | | paintings. The Mona Lisa is one of the more |
| were commissioned as the continued expansion of | | | | prominent pieces found in the museum. It is a 16th |
| the Louvre necessitated it. As France grew in power | | | | century portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci. It is |
| and stature in the 17th century, it was able to | | | | considered as one of the most famous paintings in |
| acquire increasing holdings. Major works from Dutch | | | | the world. The picture is of an expressionless |
| artists were acquired for display in the museum. | | | | woman, which has been the subject of countless |
| Today, the collection is added by gifts from citizens. | | | | debates and arguments. The painting has undergone |
| One of the primary goals of the Louvre is to | | | | a number of conservation treatments leading to its' |
| preserve and protect French art treasures. This | | | | relatively excellent state. |
| includes collections from the early part of its history | | | | Other exhibits include sculptures, such as the Venus |
| up to recent acquisitions to this day. They seek to | | | | de Milo. Also known as the Aphrodite of Milos, it is an |
| give access to as large amount of people as possible | | | | ancient Greek statue depicting Aphrodite, the |
| to the beauty of all these works. The museum loans | | | | Goddess of Love and Beauty. It is made of marble |
| different works of art to different institutions all over | | | | with the absence or arms from the sculpture being |
| the world too. | | | | quite notable. |
| It has partnerships with other major art institutions. It | | | | Aside from the aforementioned exhibits, others |
| was recently announced that a Louvre museum will | | | | include engravings, drawings, books and archeology. |
| be constructed in Abu Dhabi and should be completed | | | | To keep up with the times, the Louvre continually |
| in 2012. It will house work from different French | | | | expands and develops new areas in the museum. |
| museums, including those from the Louvre as well. | | | | |