The Louvre as we know it today is the result of extensive work and rebuilding ordered by Napoleon III. Considered as one of the grea test palaces in the wold, the Louvre was originally a fortress built to defend Paris in the 12 th century, then a prison and later a royal residence. It became a museum in 1791 and today houses works of Art from ancient civilisations to modern times. « Beauty has here its temple. And it can be admired in a great diversity of forms. In the very heart of this huge city, this museum is like the cameo which claps a bracelet of precious stones. Art has stamped here its supreme seal. And it is indeed a difficult task to find the words it deserves. » |
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| This remarkable gouache was executed in 1910. A soft blue-mauve harmony predominates the overflowing Seine. The river gave Galien Laloue the opportunity to work on the many reflections of the sky in the water. |
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