Fortress on the Seine
According to Travel France, although the exact year of the Louvre's construction cannot be determined, historians agree that the structure on the Seine River was originally built as a fortress during the reign of King Philippe II in the late 12th century, as part of Paris's defenses against the threat from the British. The foundations of that ancient fortress still lie underground and are currently being studied by scientists .
Structurally, the Louvre is a square-shaped building situated on the banks of the Seine River. Two other buildings run alongside it. The main entrance to the Louvre today is through a glass pyramid built in 1989 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. The entire structure was not built as it was initially, but was destroyed and then continuously restored and expanded over 800 years. This process was carried out by many generations, and the Louvre itself has changed its role and function several times.
In the 13th century, King Louis IX, grandson of Philippe II, expanded the fortress, adding a chapel and a row of buildings to the west. By the 14th century, King Charles V added ramparts, diminishing the defensive importance of the original castle. He then renovated the Louvre as a residence, upgrading the decorative details and establishing the royal library there.
During the Renaissance, the Louvre continued to be renovated in a non- military direction by King Francis I. He built the Quai du Louvre royal gardens, a sports arena, and expanded the art collection that had existed since the time of Charles V. Many iconic works by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci were brought back under Francis I, most notably the Mona Lisa.
The Louvre began to take on the appearance of a cultural and artistic landmark. Kings Henry II, Charles IX, Henri III, and Henri IV continued this trend. New parts of the former fortress were built in the Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. The Louvre gradually became grand and magnificent. Henri IV also expanded the tradition of welcoming leading artists of the time, thus transforming the Louvre into a major art center of Europe during this period.
The monarchy in France reached its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries, which meant the Louvre had the conditions to flourish even more. During this period, the Louvre expanded its area fourfold.
Major changes under the French Revolution
A rare low point in the Louvre's history came in the 18th century when the decline of the French monarchy led to less attention being paid to the castle. The emergence of a series of inns, shops, and makeshift taverns affected the castle's appearance on the Seine River. Louis XVI even considered demolishing the entire castle.
However, he didn't have time to do that before the French Revolution broke out in 1789. The Louvre Palace was nationalized, becoming state property during this period, marking a major turning point in its history. French revolutionaries held many meetings concerning the fate of the palace. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas, they decided to convert the palace into a museum. 1793 is also considered the founding date of the Louvre Museum.
In the 19th century, the history of the Louvre was closely linked to the significant contributions of two Napoleonic eras. Emperor Napoleon I built the famous Arc de Triomphe and also plundered many works of art through his wars. His grandson completed the two magnificent arches, added galleries, and connected the various areas of the palace.
During World War II, the Louvre was used by the French government as an evacuation point for civilians. This period is also associated with the name of Jacques Jaujard, who organized the evacuation and protected the art collections at the Louvre from the clutches of Nazi Germany when Paris was occupied. Coincidentally, Jaujard later married a female resistance fighter codenamed Mozart, a musical genius whose artifacts are also housed at the Louvre.
Through the efforts of many generations, this magnificent structure has been preserved and continues to be expanded to this day. In 1984, a glass pyramid was built in front of the museum's main entrance by the Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. In 2012, an exhibition of Islamic art was also inaugurated at the Louvre.
Louvre today
The former fortress is now one of the world's largest museums, housing over half a billion works of art, 35,000 of which are currently on public display. If you spent 30 seconds on each artwork 24 hours a day, you could see the entire collection of over half a billion pieces at the Louvre in about 200 days. More than 500 films, novels, and songs have been written with inspiration from the Louvre, the most recent and perhaps the most famous being "The Da Vinci Code".
This museum alone welcomes 9.6 million visitors annually, the majority of whom are foreigners. Most come to take pictures with the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo statue. But the Louvre is more than that. Every corner, every painting, every smallest relief sculpture in this museum bears the mark of history and art. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece. For example, the glass pyramid is not just a decorative structure; it also provides natural light to the numerous galleries hidden beneath.
What makes the Louvre so fascinating is its philosophy of embracing diversity. The museum houses renowned works from Europe, including France, Italy, and Austria, as well as representations from art traditions around the world. The French do not reject other cultures; the presence of the glass pyramid and the Islamic art section is proof of this.
When mentioning the Louvre, one must talk about the Mona Lisa. This masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci is hailed as the most famous work of art of all time. According to Paris City Vision, the Mona Lisa was painted in the early 16th century and brought by Leonardo when he visited France at the invitation of King Francis I. The king later purchased the work, and the painting has been owned by the French ever since.
Controversy surrounding the woman's identity, the painting techniques, and the hidden meanings Leonardo da Vinci incorporated into the Mona Lisa erupted at the time and continued for centuries. The work was preserved by various French monarchs in different palaces and began to be displayed at the Louvre in 1797. Like the Louvre itself, the work is intertwined with the ups and downs of French history. It was once mounted on the wall of Napoleon's bedroom and was stolen from the Louvre in 1911.
During its time at the Louvre, the Mona Lisa was subjected to stone throwing, razor blade cuts, and red paint spraying. Today, the artwork is protected by bulletproof glass. The Louvre has implemented a new tour procedure so that each group of visitors now has approximately 30 seconds to admire this masterpiece. The museum has also allocated a separate, open area specifically for the legendary painting.
At the recent Paris Olympics, the Louvre opened an exhibition dedicated to the Games. Visitors were able to explore the origins of the ancient Olympics, modern history, political context, milestones, and symbols of the event. The French proudly believe this is evidence of the spirit of integration, creativity, and willingness to change that the Louvre has demonstrated throughout its 800-year history.
MINH CHIEN (Translator)
Source: https://nhandan.vn/lich-su-lau-doi-cua-louvre-post829797.html
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