Naomi Sato-Dame
Professor Booth
HUM 142
31 May 2011
The Louvre Museum and History
I picked The Louvre Museum for my Humanities Site Evaluation (viewed on Tuesday, May 31, 2011). Because I visited there a few years ago and I also read and enjoyed the book The Da Vinci Code which had part of the story set there. The museum was “Large!” I don’t think anyone could see all the art on display in one day. I joined a group with a dedicated guide who allowed me to see the most popular art work like Mona Lisa, Venus De Milo, and Liberty Leading the People. What I found interesting from reviewing their website was that it provided an education on the history of the Louvre. Its history was divided into five periods. I had never realized the deep history of “Today’s Louvre” but when I started my evaluation of this site it became very interesting to me.
First, about design, the main page allowed a visitor to translate in French, Japanese and Chinese. For children, there was a little cartoon guy (maybe Napoleon) on the corner, if clicked, he would wake up and start as your guide of the site. It seemed very friendly to younger age visitors. The design was not over loaded with graphic images and was kept simple, so it was easy on the eyes. I was impressed by the clarity of the digital images and the detail of the database, an excellent resource for study purposes. I was disappointed with the virtual tours as most items were not 360 degree panoramic views. When changed to art work, it’s only zoomed in or out. It would be nice to see all around and the location of these fine works of art.
Next, what I learned from this site was the amazing history of - The Middle Ages (1190 – 1528) - it was built by Philippe Auguste in 1190 as a fortress, because Paris was Europe’s biggest city at the time, and the capital needed to be protected so came to be known as the Louvre. In 1364 began the transformation of the old fortress into a splendid royal residence. From the Louvre to the Tuileries (1546 – 1610) – Ambitious royal plans to link to the two buildings culminated in the creation of the Grand Galerie. This extensive construction would continue through to the reign of Louis XIV. The Classical Period (1624 – 1793) – The reigns of Louis XIII and XIV had a major impact on both places and included the extension of the west wing, resulting in the Louvre that we see today. From Place to Museum (1798 – 1871) – With the Revolution, the Louvre entered a phase of intensive transformation. In 1793 the Museum Central des Arts opened to the public. The Grand Louvre (1875 – 2005) – After the demolition of the Tuileries in 1882, the new modern Louvre was born. The museum began to take over the whole of the vast complex of buildings.
The Louvre has always been an important part of French history, drawing on the spirit of the Revolution and its notion of perpetual evolution, innovation and influence. As the museum director mentioned “at ease with its time” the Louvre is on a scale unrivaled anywhere in the world and enjoys a global reputation.
Work Cited
The Louvre Museum. <http://www.louvre.fr> Web. 31 May. 2011