THE LOUVRE:
THE LOUVRE is an evolution of form and beauty -both inwardly and outwardly.
Its external structure has seen both tear downs and add-ons until morphing into the art museum it is today -
from being a medieval fortress to the residence of French kings;
from a place to display the king's royal collection to a museum to display the nation's masterpieces.
The building itself is enormous! The grandeur of its exterior is best seen in daylight.
Our tour group visited at night - as it beckoned us... "come inside... experience the warmth and beauty of my masterpieces."
Three of its most visited artifacts are shown below.
LE MUSEE D'ORSAY:
We took the metro to LE MUSEE D'ORSAY which is right across the bridge from The Louvre. Abundant natural light from its vaulted, glass ceilings provide the perfect setting for paintings and sculptures from 19th and early 20th century artists.
Upon entering the building, you sense this was once a train station. From its length, you can imagine the hustle and bustle of travelers hurrying about to catch their trains.
Throngs of people still enter its doors today, just for a different purpose; to view the art and sculptures housed within.
Upon careful look to the left, you can see a succession of
sculptures that grace the first floor.
The art galleries are in the wings - off to the side.
Our tour group was not left on its own to stumble through the museum. The art specialist (left photo below) brought life to the art pieces in the galleries. She provided the historical context into which these pieces were created. Being a beautiful day, we took the tree-lined pathway through the Tuileries Garden to Musee d'Orsay. The center photo shows the clock in the main hall.