This morning's agenda included a visit to the Louvre, to seek out the famed Mona Lisa. (I use the term "morning" loosely here; although we were up "late" by North American standards -- a jet-lag-induced 10 a.m. breakfast at the hotel -- the crowds at the museum when we arrived around 11:30 a.m. indicated that it was still morning... by the time we left at 2 p.m., there were far more people milling around and lined up than when we arrived.)
The first thing that struck me was the size of the building: Clearly, the French take their art seriously; the place is HUGE!!
The first thing that struck me was the size of the building: Clearly, the French take their art seriously; the place is HUGE!!
As we walked through the grounds, Alex remarked "We're walking through art!"
Yes indeed, "Art" was everywhere, from the design of the doorways and vistas to the giant, glass pyramids in the courtyard, to the handicapped and stroller elevator (more on that later)...
Yes indeed, "Art" was everywhere, from the design of the doorways and vistas to the giant, glass pyramids in the courtyard, to the handicapped and stroller elevator (more on that later)...
Even the management of the flow of people into the Louvre is well orchestrated; once inside the main entrance (accessible via security counter underneath the largest of the courtyard pyramids), one is greeted by a large, bright atrium. Multiple ticket kiosks are located in various corners of the atrium. A large information desk is located at the centre, immediately visible from both the elevators and staircase. (It features information and maps in multiple languages; I helped myself to several for my students back home -- Chinese, Polish, Arabic Louvre maps made their way into my backpack.)
We also decided to splurge on a few Nintendo DS audio guides, which promised child-friendly tours of Egypt as well as a "Masters" tour which included the Mona Lisa.
We also decided to splurge on a few Nintendo DS audio guides, which promised child-friendly tours of Egypt as well as a "Masters" tour which included the Mona Lisa.
The audio-guides turned out to be too much technology for this ludite, and I decided to stick with the well-marked signs to help me find and guide my 8-year-old twins and their dad to the well known work of the Italian master.
We soon found the demure-looking lady. Predictably, she was surrounded by a throng of people.
I find the work itself underwhelming (I can't help but wonder why, in a museum with so many impressive pieces of art, do people flock in droves to a rather small painting of a woman's head?) Don't get me wrong, I mean, it is geometrically a pleasing piece and all (did you know that her left eye is exactly centred on the canvas, for example, and that she was one of the first portraits without a "barrier prop", thus creating a more intimate feel with the viewer), but it is not -- in my opinion -- worth the rush past the vast body of works that surrounds it (both in Danen, and the other halls of the museum).
I find the work itself underwhelming (I can't help but wonder why, in a museum with so many impressive pieces of art, do people flock in droves to a rather small painting of a woman's head?) Don't get me wrong, I mean, it is geometrically a pleasing piece and all (did you know that her left eye is exactly centred on the canvas, for example, and that she was one of the first portraits without a "barrier prop", thus creating a more intimate feel with the viewer), but it is not -- in my opinion -- worth the rush past the vast body of works that surrounds it (both in Danen, and the other halls of the museum).
More interesting to me was the "caution, pickpockets" sign next to the famous work... of course petty thieves would do their best work in such a distracted crowd!
The largest painting in the gallery is also nearby; it depicts the miracle of the water turned to wine at the cannanite wedding (though comissioned for the rectory of a monestary, the painting shows signs of having been painted by an artist of the upper class, as evidenced by the noble princes and their ladies to the left of the painting, for example, and the setting itself, which does not at all resemble the cananite country side!)
People-watching is perhaps the most interesting pastime at the Louvre -- the boys and I spent considerable time just sitting on a bench watching people go by, and see who's engaged vs who's just rushing through the museum so they can check it off their list!
The largest painting in the gallery is also nearby; it depicts the miracle of the water turned to wine at the cannanite wedding (though comissioned for the rectory of a monestary, the painting shows signs of having been painted by an artist of the upper class, as evidenced by the noble princes and their ladies to the left of the painting, for example, and the setting itself, which does not at all resemble the cananite country side!)
People-watching is perhaps the most interesting pastime at the Louvre -- the boys and I spent considerable time just sitting on a bench watching people go by, and see who's engaged vs who's just rushing through the museum so they can check it off their list!
Personally, my favourite piece that we saw today was a large stone angel.
I found the arch of her wings rather impressive, and was drawn to this piece; I stood looking at it for quite a long time.
The other neat thing was the snail shell-esque elevator surrounded by spiral staircase, in the main lobby. Reserved for strollers and wheelchairs, it transports people up and down in the middle of spiral staircase on demand.
(Click on the photos below to enlarge.)
I found the arch of her wings rather impressive, and was drawn to this piece; I stood looking at it for quite a long time.
The other neat thing was the snail shell-esque elevator surrounded by spiral staircase, in the main lobby. Reserved for strollers and wheelchairs, it transports people up and down in the middle of spiral staircase on demand.
(Click on the photos below to enlarge.)
Once back outside, we took the obligatory "Look, I'm touching the top of the pyramid" shots... in fact, the museum appears to have provided standposts for people to do just that, and everywhere outside were tourists taking the same photo.
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