An Exciting Addition to the Louvre
Louvre, a symbol of French culture and art, entered a new phase in its development with a brand new establishment in Lens. With its complete richness and diversity, Louvre-Lens museum officially opened its doors to its first visitors on December 12th, 2012. With the opening of the new Louvre-Lens, formerly a disused coalfield, not only do the most prestigious artworks in the collection will get a new lease on life, but the place where it stands also gets the attention of the public.
This brand new Louvre-Lens made with glass and light in a green setting looks stunning. Designed by the architects from the Japanese firm Sanaa, the transparency and reflection are the integral features of its design. It makes for a perfect setting for the exceptional works which constitute the Louvre’s permanent collection.
Three New Louvre Galleries
The Louvre-Lens hosts three main galleries: the Galerie du Temps, le Pavillon de Verre and La Galerie d’Exposition Temporaire. The Galeries du Temps is 120-meters long and is the master wing of the museum which exhibits masterpieces from the Paris Louvre over a five-year period, showcasing works in chronological and geographic order, initially focusing on the periods of the Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern art.
In the beginning, 205 works will be exhibited in this Louvre gallery over the next five years: 70 works for Antiquity, 45 works for the Middle Ages and 90 pieces for Modern Art. Le Pavillon de Verre (Glass Pavilion) is a continuation of the Galerie du Temps, where visitors can view artworks from neighboring museums in the region.
Finally, La Galerie d’Exposition Temporaire houses the museum’s two temporary exhibits per year. Until March 11, 2013, The Renaissance: Revolutions in the arts in Europe 1400-1530 is on display, featuring over 250 artworks that showcase the most innovative themes during this influential period. Among them, the incomplete work by Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and the monumental wood carving by Albrecht Dürer, The Triumphal Arch of Maximilian, would be a part of the Louvre-Lens exhibition.
So get aboard our Seine River Cruise and make a visit to the marvelous Louvre museum!