Briefly Describing the Louvre Museum - Essay Example

Briefly describe the Museum (Museum du Louvre) The Museum du Louvre has been in existence since the 12th century but the museum has gone through many architectural changes over the years. Due to the immense growth of the city the museum has been absorbed in both nature and the originality with its location being the eastern side of the City. The museum’s history has transformed from the fortress that hosted kings in France to the great museum we see today. The museum opens daily from 6am to 6pm except on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays when it extends up to 9.45 pm. The museum also has directions on how to get to their premises depending on the means a person is using. Museum Louvre offers advance tickets, which individuals can acquire online but the applicant must collect the ticket physically at designated places indicated on the website. There are also group tickets, which allow group entry. For individual entry, there are Paris museum passes, which a person can use to access almost all the museums in Paris with the inclusion of Louvre. The museum has vast collections, which ranges from paintings to sculptures to even simple drawing displaying the exemplary work of art. The organization of these collections is a task of the Egyptian Antiquities department. The department represents pieces originating from as early as the pre-historic era to the Christian era. The various artworks present in this department are the works of private scholars who had gone for a trip in Egypt. Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities department comprises of a vast variation of artwork from Greek and the Roman that traces back from the BCs up to the 6th century AD. The collection build up originates from the royal background during the French evolution and there has been immense hard work to make the department what it is today. Decorative Arts and the Prints and Drawings are also departments in this museum that sparks many interests in the way the pieces of art are grouped in the museum. The existences of all these departments where the collections reside are significantly because of certain events that have taken root historically. The tour around the museum in these entire departments was a great experience seeing all the numerous arts ranging from sculptures to paintings and drawings. The analogies by the employees of the history of the museum were fascinating as their explanations were clear to the point not mentioning their warm reception. Everything is in an elegant arrangement with the full description in every piece displaying the author, the place, and the year of the formation of every piece. The pieces are worldwide representation of the great piece of remarkable artist from all over the world diversifying from history, current experiences, and cultural representation to religious works of art. Velasquez exhibition at the Grand Palais The Grand palais is a spacious area in Paris where fine artists exhibits their work on temporary basis. The venue is like monument that symbolically represents Paris that can hold a vast category of art pieces. The popularity of Grand Palais is due to its uniqueness and the attractive and captivating programs that leave visitors in fascination. The tour around this venue was very educative not forgetting the experience levels that the staff portrayed. One major thing that impressed me even more is the knowledge base underlying these arts and their history that left me wanting for more. The exhibition venue displays variety of art works ranging from paintings, decorative arts, sculptures, photographs and drawings, which leave one amazed. There are programs for all kinds of groups including groups and individual. The venue also accepts the Paris individual pass and to conveniently access the location, online tickets are best to avoid queuing for long. Musee dOrsay This museum is very unique and captivating owing to the phenomenal way that saw its transformation from a rail station into a museum today. The initial purpose of the museum was to serve as a universal display, standing at the Seine banks in the early 19th century. The museum underwent a series of redesigning and numerous architectural transformations to be the impeccable site we see currently. The Museums operating hours are every day from 9.30 to 6 pm except on Mondays when they are closed. The hotel has also night extension on Thursday, which closes at 9.45 pm. The arrangement of entrances at the museum is in such a way that those without prior tickets have a different passage from those with prior tickets. The tour around this museum was captivating following its rich formation history and transformation from former Orsay railway station to a Museum. The architectural artifacts are exemplary and the designs of art works are unique and lovely. The personnel were welcoming and very willing to explain everything in details, which was in their fingertips. Centre Pompidou The idea to incorporate the museum came from the then president Pompidou with his huge dream to create a multicultural complex of all times. This included a spacious modern library. Then there was rehabilitation of the national museum to house modern works because there lacked space for display. The initiation of the project culminated in competition of architectures where each presented a proposal of the museum. The opening of the centre happened in 1977 and two days after that; the centre was open for the public. The center became entirely a museum after a series of renovation to add more exhibition space after twenty years. The structure of the museum cuts across state ownership, the leadership with a president as the head and departmental segmentations. The museum is one of the famous monuments in France and many visitors across the globe come to view the great pieces of art by famous artists from historical to modern arts. There were numerous activities but despite that, there were always available to provide information as per our requests. The knowledge of these staff about all these employees about all the pieces in the museum and their authors fascinated me a lot. Montmartre The museum is one of the most attractive museum in Paris built on a hill in butte which has been in existence since the 1960 in an old building La Maison du Bel Air. Due to the extensive and remarkable meeting spaces as well as residential in the area, the museum highly attracted variety of known artists. Some of those artist attracted by the amenities available at the museum were Auguste Renoir, Suzanne Valadon, Emile Bernard among so many others. The museum hosts a number of permanent collections like paintings, posters and drawings from renowned artists like Kupka, Steinlen and Veladon among so many others. Surrounding the museum are three Renoir gardens, which offer a perfect view to the museum. The visit to the Montmartre museum was special and a great an experience since it is one of the prestigious museums in Paris. The museum hosts permanent collections from world’s most prestigious artist, which everyone wants to look, emulate. The staffs at the museum were also very warm and I was full of amazement by their excellent services. They gave me quite an experience that is hard to forget about the history of the collection as well as of that of the museum. Choose a work of art that interests you. What features or aspects do you find most interesting? (Try sketching these in rough form). Figure 1: The Resurrection of Lazarus. Digital image. Louvre. 1717. Web. 27Th April 2015. One particular piece of art that captured my interest is the ‘the Resurrection of Lazarus” by Jean Jouvenet (pasted above) where she drew her inspiration from Bible in the Gospel according to John. The reason for the choice of this particular art is due to previous knowledge of the theme of the painting represented. The resurrection of Lazarus is a common subject to many people especially to the Christians and the literature is readily available. Personally, I identified with the subject because since I was young, the story of Lazarus was a common reference. Therefore, finding a theme representing a subject that I am familiar with motivated and sparked an immense level of interest in me. The physical condition of this painting is well visible considering its size and the number of elements in it is very captivating. The arrangement of men and women creates a feeling of sadness without necessarily overcrowding the scene. The way they are leaning as they let Jesus pass to the tomb and the fact that Jesus is identifiable just by looking at the picture creates a great significance on the picture. There are also visible representations of men lying on the ground in the picture, which is an iconic representation of the long wait for Jesus arrival to resurrect Lazarus. The high and low level in the painting are physically visible from the lookers’ eye where some people in the picture are on a higher level in comparison with other persons. The background images are of the rocks and the vegetation sparks some interest on the viewers owing to their arrangement and representation. The alignment of the objects with the horizon being the farthest, then some trees, the rocks and the people is an execution following the back to front order. This means that the author painted the farthest object first and finished with the closest. The author has articulated this concept very well and it is useful in ensuring that she does not waste time painting the hidden surfaces. This is the reason why the painting looks so simple yet very communicative in an harmonious way. The Spirit of Montmartre and the Modern Art, 1875 – 1910 at the Montmartre Figure 2: The Spirit of Montmartre and the Modern Art. Digital image. Montmarte. 1875. Web. 29Th April 2015 This painting elegantly stood out at the museum displaying the heritage of the Montmarte at the break of the 20th century especially in connection to the artist of that time. This reason that drove me to choose this particular piece was that it was interesting to know what the arts during those historical times were like. The most captivating aspect about this picture is the balance and positioning that it exhibits which is quite similar to modern art despite the difference in technologies between then and now. Figure 3: The poor Fisherman. Digital image. Musee-Orsay. 1824. Web. 29Th April 2015. This piece was very amazing considering the conditions of every human being at one particular point in life. The painting displays a real human being nature through the hustles of life, which is the one main reason that this picture drew my interest at Musee-Orsay. The location of the Fisherman with his wife and child behind him and the far horizon brings the out the theme that the author is communicating about the condition of this Fisherman. The flowers in the painting are very noticeable further communicating the serenity of the situation. Figure 4: The Velazquez exhibition.Digital image. Grand- Palais. 1599. Web. 29Th April 2015. This Painting present at the Velaquez exhibition at the grand- Palais was unique among the many pieces present at the showcase. The exhibition is still running but started on 25th March 2015 and will run until July 13th 2015. The posture of this painting is very elegant demonstrating a great deal of confidence giving some value to its viewer. Its size is much smaller in comparison with others but its physic attracts from a far. Figure 5: History, Art, Architecture and Design, 80s to today. Digital image. Centre Pompidou. 2014. Web. 29Th April 2015. The design history in the clothing sector is impeccable as the centre Pompidou has displayed it. This is among the few designs that surround clothing design industry in Paris and this is the reason why the design captivated my interest. The open Zip arrangement with flowers on the sides sparks some interest representing the olden day design in transformation to the current trends. What does this work of art tells us about the history, culture, political situation of the time? Is it imbedded in social/political history? The Resurrection of Lazarus by Jean Jouvenet The Painting at a glance represents a very rich construction of a socially rich society where men and women freely interact with each other. History perception is on the way men and women dressed during the era of Jesus where women wore long dresses like the Cinderella and men tied ropes across their body, which this painting clearly shows. As historical dressing code depicted, this picture is a full depiction of this historical dressing. Similarly, culture and history go hand in hand because most cultures are a basis for historical events and the way of living. Historically, people used fire flames as their source of light and this picture illustrates a person holding the fire flame to light the dark corner. History explains that Lazarus resurrection happened after a long wait and that Jesus was responsible for that. The attention the painting creates as Jesus goes to resurrect portrays His leadership significance in those days. A Leader back then was highly respected and people gave paved way for them as they passed by. This painting portrays this kind of respect by the way women are leaning back to give way while old men of wisdom follow him from behind while others provides light so that he can see where he is going. Jouvenet also represent political theme in this painting through the entourage symbolism whereby Jesus has a following behind who seem like they are clearing way for him. Others are directing him where he should proceed to, just like in today’s political scenes where a leader uses huge entourage as security and guide. The painting also portrays other people praising him just like the way political leaders receive cheers clearly illustrating political times. The Spirit of Montmartre and the Modern Art, 1875 – 1910 at the Montmartre The site of this painting at a glance portrays a very rich culture of Paris with the fanciness of the land of Paris as best known of it since the historical times. Through it you can get a glimpse of what it was like in the early 20th century in Montmartre explaining the reason why the museum became so popular locally and internationally. The painting structures of old time buildings visible from a far with figurative animals describe a city that loved experiencing the beauty of the sunset. More importantly, this piece highlights a city with expanded art culture and rich economic background, depicting the existence of a powerful and able city of Paris. The Poor Fisherman by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1881) at the Musee-Orsay This painting shows a historical family perspective where fishing was a common means of living for the families living near the seas and lakes. The men did the fishing during those eras as heads of the family using a family boat and utilizing the traditional fishing rods and baits. This painting comprehensively displays this fact with this Fisherman holding the fishing rod inside the boat fishing for his family. Culturally, men are the heads and providers of their families while women are their helpers. The painting of a man in a boat trying to earn a living for his family while his wife waiting at the shore with the child depicts the whole concept of being faming heads and their family’s breadwinners. The political symbolism in this painting is minimal though all these structures existed in a political scenario since families had to exist as the smallest unit the in political jurisdiction for proper governance. Velazquez exhibition at the grand- Palais by Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) The Portrait is a masterpiece for a historical renowned artist from the early day with a trail worth remembering. This highlights the historical nature of the portraits from the hair that represented the emperors of the time. Political icons from those days also preferred such looks to exude confidence and exert fear among their constituents. The piece also represents the culture of the people in those days in that the culture required them to portray themselves in such a manner. History, Art, Architecture and Design, 80s to today at the Centre Pompidou The very important aspects in this design represent the designs in the 80s when the trousers were trendy and the male designs begun to creep into the market. The cultural requirement for trousers by men is what this design represents. Men in social interactions wear trousers majorly and this display places that social aspect into consideration. This design highlights the cross-cultural relationships and the similarities between the designs then and currently. What do you personally like or dislike about the work of art? Please describe formal qualities –the quality of line, color, brushwork or "handling," tactile values, volumes, modeling, proportion, perspective or special construction and composition or abstraction. The Resurrection of Lazarus by Jean Jouvenet (3.88 m * 6.64 m) Jouvenet has really utilized the concept of implied lines in this painting especially when representing the hair of the women and men. The painting has many characters in it and thus the implied line creates a perception of the whole hairline though physically they are not there. This is an important aspect because the painter has made sure that she has not blocked some other part, which an actual line could have blocked. Value is yet another aspect present in this painting where the shadows from lightness and darkness gives an emphasis on the condition of the place. In this painting, one side has light while the other side has darkness. This gives a sense that the area of the painting that has light is the entrance and has higher depth in contrast to the dark area of the painting that depicts a lower depth area, which seems less spacious. The use of color in this painting is an example of a perfect execution of color representation in any artwork. The blue background creates an outdoor outlook with a serene mood. The mood that this painting depicts is perfect for the theme that the author wanted to communicate. During resurrection, people’s mood should be emotional and calm which the blue color in the background creates even to the viewer of the painting. The characters in this painting are in variety of colors with the color being darkest at the center of the painting. Mixed colors add to the intensity of the image at hand. Color is reflective and that is why Jouvenet in this painting used bright colors where the light is more so that it can be more reflective. This use of color displays the harmoniousness of the people as the resurrection happens. The author has also brought out Color value aspect very well in this painting whereby there is light followed by darkness as from the entrance to where the resurrection took place. The tomb in a normal context is a dark place that is not meant to be so appealing, which the author in this painting has significantly brought out. Towards the tomb, we see a person holding a light to create a sense of darkness present at that end. The painting’s texture is very smooth combined with a smooth fabric on the ground as well as that worn by the people in the painting. This creates a feeling of calmness and sadness as that is what the painting is supposed to communicate. However, the rocks in the background portrays a rough texture and this kind of texture is an implied texture because it seems like it is rough yet it is not. The author in this case wanted to depict an outdoor environment with the presence of traditional grave design, which comprised of a rock at the top to cover the tomb. In this painting, Jouvenet utilizes the shape element appropriately whereby she uses a combination of both organic and geometric representations of the painting. Organic representation means use of continuous and curved lines in the painting. In the surface of the painting, curved lines are very elaborate flowing with the smooth fabric on the ground. Also, in painting, as for the people contained therein, the author used curved lines to illustrate the curvy nature of human beings. In some cases, she uses continuous lines in order to fit dressing to the people in this picture. This demonstrates that the author has a clear understanding of the physical structures of objects present in this painting. Geometric shapes represent the sharp edges and corners which the author has explicitly demonstrated in this painting. The rocks in the background are a clear representation of sharp edges in this painting. The staircase where Jesus is passing also is a geometric shape representation to depict movement from a higher lever to a lower level that creates a picture of the position the tomb is supposed to be. A perfect painting should be a combination of all types of shapes, which Jouvenet has perfectly used in this painting. A good picture should appear to be real and should fully represent the theme that the author intended to put across. This is therefore the representation of form in any artwork and in this particular painting; the author has clearly depicted this element by using the variations in light and darkness. The upper right side of the painting is the brightest but as you move to the left side, you experience the variations in the value of light until you reach to the dark area in the area farthest to the left. Similarly, the right most side of the painting is not as bright as the central right area such that the painting captures the attention of the viewer. Jouvenet similarly has utilized space element to illustrate element of depth. To achieve this she has used the overlapping concept where some objects appear in front of others. This is due to the large number of elements present. She has executed this concept very well that the painting looks highly organized despite their large numbers. The overlapping in this context similarly creates an emotional and supportive feeling considering the theme of the painting. Holes and cavities are also a space element that helps to make a painting or any artwork look as real as possible and bring out its right context. Towards the end of this painting on the left side, the author created something that looked like a hole that depicts a real tomb. Behind that tomb is cavity in the rocks, which makes them looks like they are also real. By looking at this painting, any viewer can have a feeling of what is going on and can interpret the meaning that author wants to put across. The author has also tried to bring a lot of balance in this painting whereby the word balance means the symmetric alignment where elements are divided into equal halves. Another element in balance is asymmetric alignment whereby elements division is not into equal halves and radial, which refers to other divisions that starts from the center diverging outwards. To bring out the balance in this painting, the author utilizes the radial alignment where the central part seems to be the start point then proceeds to other parts. The author has greatly combined similar texture save for the rocks in the background. Similarly, she has used similar lines in similar places and this has created a wholeness of this painting. Use of similar elements or closely related ones creates a unified work, which Jouvenet has done so well in this painting. The Spirit of Montmartre and the Modern Art The color representation in this painting exhibits a perfect interpretation of what good art should look like such that the color is in line with the sunset theme. This color is perfect because it reflects perfectly with time of the day that this painting represents. Additionally, the value of the color changes in different locations for instance the color is darker at the front and becomes brighter as move further. The texture in this painting is a smooth one to signify the serene conditions during the evenings. This enhances the mood that the author wants to communicate in condition with the lighting effect. Balance in this painting is symmetrical which means that the portrait can separate into two equal portions. The Poor Fisherman In this picture, the author uses color to signify the nature of this Fisherman and the location factoring the period of the day. A darker shade of blue is visible far to show the horizon but the color fades as it approaches the front such that its hue is stronger. Organic and geometric aspects of shape are well visible in the painting where the author uses both sharp lines and curved ones to represent the composition of the sea and the structures of a human being that assumes a curvy shape. The value of the color describing the depth in this painting is exemplary where the shadow aspect is visible exhibiting the reflective nature of water. The author has also executed the balance so well that a radial balance is perfect. All these characteristics in this painting are effectively communicating the mood of poverty and sadness as the author wants to put forth. Velazquez exhibition at the grand- Palais by Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) The Portrait visible at the Grand-Palais of a woman is a symbol of traditional leadership that this piece exhibits through a smooth texture. The texture symbolizes a serene environment like that of a women but at the same time a confident one. The colors are not bright that is why the author has used color grey that is a bit dull in order to bring the historical theme of an ancient era to the portrait. The texture is of the hair is smooth to represent the old days wigs with some shades of brown and white. The black color represents an even value since this portrait is a one level depth. History, Art, Architecture and Design, 80s to today at the Centre Pompidou The black color that the designer in this piece has used is significant in portraying the universality of men clothing especially in the social context. The green flowers add some brightness to the design and the jovial mood in order to attract some interest. The placement of this piece at the centre is important in order to add some balance in the display. The background color is brighter than the black in the trouser is but not too bright in order to complement the black. The shape is perfect for the human nature meeting the intention of the designer in this piece. The fabric’s texture is soft to signify the quality of the material used in the design. Work Cited Chavannes, P. The poor Fisherman. Digital image. Musee-Orsay. 1824. Web. 29Th April 2015 History, Art, Architecture and Design, 80s to today. Digital image. Centre Pompidou. 2014. Web. 29Th April 2015. Jouvenet, Jean. The Resurrection of Lazarus. Digital image. Louvre. 1717. Web. 27Th April 2015. The Spirit of Montmartre and the Modern Art. Digital image. Montmarte. 1875. Web. 29Th April 2015 Velazquez, D.The Velazquez exhibition. Digital image. Grand- Palais. 1599. Web. 29Th April 2015 Read More