The Big Louvre Update: Works in Progress and Close-Ups
0 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 7/27/2009 05:02:00 AM.
So much has been going on at the Louvre: Tourists, tourists, more tourists, renovation work in progress, tourists, new acquisitions, tourists, and even more tourists.
Some areas have been shut down for years for the big renovation work, such as the decorative arts and furniture wing from the 18th century, supposedly to open in 2010, and the greek sculpture wing, at the moment spread around different rooms in a crazy maze, even taking over the British paintings room.
Let's make the above picture our mantra and have a walk around to check on what's closed and what is tourist haven!
Let's make the above picture our mantra and have a walk around to check on what's closed and what is tourist haven!
So far, the Denon Pavilion seems untouched by renovation scafolding, even though the ceiling paintings and elaborate stucco could need an update in beauty.
The cour Visconti undergoing heavy work, as it will soon be turned into the new Islamic arts wing, with a glass veiled roof. You can take a peek at the work if you look out of the windows at the salle des Etats ("the Mona Lisa room" in tourist jargon).
Speaking of which, here we are in the "Mona Lisa room", the former Salle des Etats, built as an audience room for emperor Napoleon III. The former beaux-arts style wall decor is still intact behind the newly redone walls. Too bad no one can appreciate them anymore.
oh, we have a daring dresser on the right:
the view the Mona Lisa gets every day out of her little window. Actually today is a very quiet day for her.
Someone replaced Italian Renaissance with...contemorary art inside the Salon Carré.
The hidden phone on which the paintings may order late night pizzas.
Ooh, isn't she adorable.
The ...guardian thing watching over the Vicotry of Samothrace, yet another museum piece assaulted every day by thousands of flip-flop swinging tourists.
The cour du Sphinx, sealed off to the public for years now, serving as a sculpture depository and restoration center.
The rotonde d'Apollon, somehow looking like a cheap street construction site.
Oh, some tourists stole a whole doorway?
The Galerie d'Apollon, obviously not having the best air conditioning system in the world.
This is fascinating: where usually there was a window, now they put in steps and a doorway for construction workers to access the building. behind that "door" is a huge nothing, so they had to construct a huge scafolding piece behind it to access the grounds.
This is what it looks like from outside.
The Cour Carrée adorned with the traditional tent city for the fashion week and the upcoming contemporary arts fair.
And yet more scafolding.
onto the rooms of the former Musée Charles X.
Ah, we love empty egyptian anitquities display windows... very minimalistic, the huge display case for the minime chaouabtis.
"Don't mind me I'm just dusting off the shelves."
A very sexy display of plywood panels...
...actually recycled plywood panels with the former info notes still on them.
A job for Mister Clean.
More dusting needed.
One of the new acquisitions in the sculpture department.
And finally the 18th century busts get a better lighting and background color. It was needed.
Since the 18th century furniture wing is closed, feast your eyes on this little misrable room, so well hidden away from the public that almost no one notices it.
"Make a left turn after the candelier. Follow the large man. You have arrived."
The former small appartments of the Napoleon III rooms.
oh so clean
Inside the Salon Théatre
Some close-ups of the 19th century decorative arts wing.
Ah, and the Lefuel staircase is still having issues with the backdrop window lightings.
A neat display.
It's time for the kid's sculpture workshop, with the sculpture lady in grey.
Study in pencil.
Taking a nap from all that culture.
"And that's the way to the Mona Lisa"
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