Louvre and Orsay Museums

While in Paris, I had the privilege to visit the Louvre and Orsay museums.  Both experiences were highlights of my short trip to the City of Lights, and I have an even greater appreciation for the priceless works of art that they contain.

The Louvre is immense.  Unfathomably immense.  And it has so much artwork!  On the Seine cruise that I went on, the tour guide said that if you spent a minute or two in front of every piece of art in the museum, you would be there for over four months!  So, after hearing that, I wasn't too stressed about seeing everything, because I knew I couldn't see it all.  But I did see a lot!  And my experience at the Louvre was incredible.

I started in the Richelieu wing with the Northern European painting galleries, where I saw numerous Rembrandt,  Durer, and van Eyck.  I then moved into the middle wing, the Sully, where I saw countless works by the celebrated French artists, such as Poussin, Watteau, Chardin, Boucher, Fragonard, David, and many many more.  One of my favorite galleries was one that houses all of the important French national pieces, all of which were larger than life both in size and in the overall aesthetic effect.  It was incredible to see so many works that I have studied in class.  It was easy to see with some of them why they are so revered and celebrated, because it was much more powerful seeing the real painting up close.  You could not only see the texture of the paint and canvas better, but the colors, figures, and lines were just more alive.  

I was in awe of the Denon wing of the Louvre, which houses "Winged Victory of Samotrace", "Venus d' Milo," and of course of the "Mona Lisa," which was actually bigger than I expected it be.  I also loved seeing the works of the Italian masters, such as Raphael, Caravaggio, and other works by da Vinci.  I loved the Louvre and I'm so glad that I walked away with an even greater appreciation for the art of centuries past.

Visiting the Orsay was also an awe-inspiring experience.  The old train station in home to mainly French paintings from the 19th century.  I loved seeing the works of the French masters, and it was so amazing to see their works in person.  Impressionist works are so much more impactful when you can see the brushstrokes and vivid colors as they were meant to be seen.  All of the art in the Orsay had a huge impact on me, and I left the museum uplifted and with a deeper love for the art of 19th century France.