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The Big Louvre Update: Works in Progress and Close-Ups

louvre 2009

So much has been going on at the Louvre: Tourists, tourists, more tourists, renovation work in progress, tourists, new acquisitions, tourists, and even more tourists.
Some areas have been shut down for years for the big renovation work, such as the decorative arts and furniture wing from the 18th century, supposedly to open in 2010, and the greek sculpture wing, at the moment spread around different rooms in a crazy maze, even taking over the British paintings room.

Let's make the above picture our mantra and have a walk around to check on what's closed and what is tourist haven!

louvre 2009
So far, the Denon Pavilion seems untouched by renovation scafolding, even though the ceiling paintings and elaborate stucco could need an update in beauty.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009
The cour Visconti undergoing heavy work, as it will soon be turned into the new Islamic arts wing, with a glass veiled roof. You can take a peek at the work if you look out of the windows at the salle des Etats ("the Mona Lisa room" in tourist jargon).
louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009
Speaking of which, here we are in the "Mona Lisa room", the former Salle des Etats, built as an audience room for emperor Napoleon III. The former beaux-arts style wall decor is still intact behind the newly redone walls. Too bad no one can appreciate them anymore.
louvre 2009
oh, we have a daring dresser on the right:
louvre 2009
the view the Mona Lisa gets every day out of her little window. Actually today is a very quiet day for her.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
Someone replaced Italian Renaissance with...contemorary art inside the Salon Carré.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
The hidden phone on which the paintings may order late night pizzas.
louvre 2009
Ooh, isn't she adorable.
louvre 2009
The ...guardian thing watching over the Vicotry of Samothrace, yet another museum piece assaulted every day by thousands of flip-flop swinging tourists.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009
The cour du Sphinx, sealed off to the public for years now, serving as a sculpture depository and restoration center.
louvre 2009
The rotonde d'Apollon, somehow looking like a cheap street construction site.
louvre 2009
Oh, some tourists stole a whole doorway?
louvre 2009
The Galerie d'Apollon, obviously not having the best air conditioning system in the world.
louvre 2009
This is fascinating: where usually there was a window, now they put in steps and a doorway for construction workers to access the building. behind that "door" is a huge nothing, so they had to construct a huge scafolding piece behind it to access the grounds.
louvre 2009
This is what it looks like from outside.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
The Cour Carrée adorned with the traditional tent city for the fashion week and the upcoming contemporary arts fair.
louvre 2009
And yet more scafolding.
louvre 2009
onto the rooms of the former Musée Charles X.
louvre 2009
Ah, we love empty egyptian anitquities display windows... very minimalistic, the huge display case for the minime chaouabtis.
louvre 2009
"Don't mind me I'm just dusting off the shelves."
louvre 2009
A very sexy display of plywood panels...
louvre 2009
...actually recycled plywood panels with the former info notes still on them.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
A job for Mister Clean.
louvre 2009
More dusting needed.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
One of the new acquisitions in the sculpture department.
louvre 2009
And finally the 18th century busts get a better lighting and background color. It was needed.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
Since the 18th century furniture wing is closed, feast your eyes on this little misrable room, so well hidden away from the public that almost no one notices it.
louvre 2009
"Make a left turn after the candelier. Follow the large man. You have arrived."
louvre 2009
The former small appartments of the Napoleon III rooms.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
oh so clean
louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009
Inside the Salon Théatre
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louvre 2009
Some close-ups of the 19th century decorative arts wing.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009

louvre 2009
Ah, and the Lefuel staircase is still having issues with the backdrop window lightings.
louvre 2009
A neat display.
louvre 2009

louvre 2009
It's time for the kid's sculpture workshop, with the sculpture lady in grey.
louvre 2009
Study in pencil.
louvre 2009
Taking a nap from all that culture.
louvre 2009
"And that's the way to the Mona Lisa"
louvre 2009

louvre 2009

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    I am Cedric, discoverer of things that would go unnoticed in the streets of Paris, historic haven of fashionistas and city of lights ('lights' as in 'enlightenment', not street lights).
    But seriously: I'm an expat from Luxembourg (the country, not the garden), living in the center of Paris (hence 'Paris 2nd arrondissement'), and currenlty studying architectural history...


    benettic3@gmail.com

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