The greatest masterpieces of the Louvre

The Louvre Museum houses an extraordinary collection of artworks from ancient cultures and civilizations, making it one of the world's greatest museums.

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The Louvre, famed for its extensive collection of paintings, has long drawn visitors from around the globe. This book highlights some of the finest masterpieces that this museum has to offer.

Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa has long been one of the most iconic and renowned paintings in history, created by Leonardo da Vinci - renowned for his drawing and painting skills as well as other disciplines like science, mathematics and engineering.

The painting, now housed at the Louvre museum in Paris, was first exhibited in Florence in 1508 and quickly rose to become one of the world's most valuable artworks. Additionally, it represents an important milestone in Western art history as the earliest portrait depicting a full-length figure with arms.

Though the Mona Lisa is one of art history's most beloved masterpieces, it has often come under attack. In 1956, sulphuric acid was poured on its lower half by a vandal, forcing its re-framing and protection with bulletproof glass.

Venus and Adonis

This erotica retelling of Ovid's Metamorphoses features Venus and Adonis as a couple. Adonis is depicted as an attractive hunter who has fallen in love with Venus.

Adonis, however, stubbornly refuses to follow natural logic. He is too imbued with youthful expectations to recognize that life must continue through growth.

When Venus affirms the natural order of things, he dismisses her argument as idle and over-handled. Additionally, he labels her argumentation carnal, asserting that love must come from above in order to preserve our illusion that love is a gift from the gods.

Adonis' disregard of natural logic leads him to his demise. When Venus warns him against hunting wild animals, he disregards her advice as crazy and goes off to hunt a boar that kills him; its bloodstains cover every inch of him in the process. This scene serves as both a stunning representation of the story and has inspired both artists and poets alike.

Venus and Cupid

Venus, the Roman goddess of love and fertility, stands alongside her son Cupid. Cupid is a god of desire who often appears in paintings as an irresponsible child who may cause havoc among mortals.

In this painting, Venus points to a fertile landscape as a representation of her mission. Her powerful gesture contrasts with her loving gaze at Cupid, who is holding his bow and arrows.

Annibale Bugaletti's Venus and Cupid sculpture was inspired by Giambologna's Florence (Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence). However, his elegant posture, slim proportions, and cool facial type are not directly inspired by Giambologna's version. Instead he was motivated by another artistic personality who preferred restrained movements and more classical facial features.

The Lion Crushing a Serpent

This striking sculpture by Antoine Louis Barye is truly remarkable. It depicts a roaring lion with its tail pinned to the ground.

This image depicts a muscular lion with its tail tucked, spread claws and rigid mane. The animal is holding onto a snake that had been thrown back with its jaws wide open in order to strike the lion's head.

This sculpture is a masterpiece, not only stunning to behold but also one with great spiritual significance. It serves as a reminder that one day there will be an end to death, pain, disease and thorns in this world.