It is funny. When I go to museums, I sometimes take photos of the art, but I usually concentrate on the spaces. I think this is because you can find fabulous photos of artwork in art books and on google, but you don't often see shots of the spaces.
Museum spaces are often atmospheric because they are open, and the architecture and lighting dramatic, intentionally designed, in fact, to compliment everything at which you are looking. The Louvre, quite possibly, has some of the most imposing and dramatic spaces in the world both inside and out.
By the time we got to the Louvre, we were exhausted, we're talking walking zombies here, and I must admit, we really didn't even begin to do it justice. Our goals were to see the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and Charlemagne's Sword.
I wish I knew this couple so I could send them this photo.
Papa and GJ.
The Louvre is huge. It is like a giant, elongated U. It emcompasses not only the big building in the center with the glass pyramid at its entrance, but the wings on either side that are at least the length of a long block. Visitors cannot visit all of these spaces, so imagine what one would find in the auxilliary spaces. It is the stuff of Dan Brown novels, wouldn't you say?
I sure hope these figures aren't planning to jump.
The photos above and below are very similar. I like the one above the best, though blurry (I mean...it was pretty dark in there and I was trying to keep up with my family), because you can see Mr. MacGyver, Punch and my Mother in Law walking through the space. The one below is more in focus and you can see the amazing masonry.
There is some controversy about the pyramid. Some people don't like it and I understand why because it is so modern and it doesn't seem to fit the context of the ancient building by which it is surrounded. However, I find it to be quite beautiful end enjoy the juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity. Not to mention that light, at all times of the day, catches the glass and supporting structure in very appealing ways. We visited at sunset and dusk, so the lighting was very dramatic indeed for our visit.
That is for the museums. It was a long haul, wasn't it, but sadly, we are nearing the end of the Paris portion of our trip.
Our next installment: the catacombs...not for the faint of heart.
Actually, I didn't find them to be creepy or chilling at all, just awe-inspiring.
