In news- Art historian and curator Laurence des Cars has become the first woman to be appointed the president of Louvre art museum in its 228-year history. In 1994, she joined Musee d’Orsay, another iconic Paris museum, as curator and, in 2017, became its first woman director.
About Louvre museum-
- The Louvre is the world’s most visited museum and is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France.
- It is located on the right bank of the River Seine.
- It was established in 1793.
- The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II.
- Due to urban expansion, the fortress eventually lost its defensive function, and in 1546 Francis I converted it into the primary residence of the French Kings.
- In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection.
- During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation’s masterpieces and it was opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings.
- The collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed Musee Napoleon.
- The collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.
- It is home to the Mona Lisa, the iconic Leonardo da Vinci painting.
Source: Indian Express
