When I
exit the metro for the Louvre, I know I am in the right place. The
French have seen to that by decorating the metro walls with replicas
of art works from the Louvre its self. To redecorate something as
everyday as a metro stop takes money and time. So it would be safe to
say that the intention of this beautiful transportation platform is
to send a message of what is valued by those in power and what they
want you to think of them and their country. The image and message I
am getting is that France is the Art and Culture capital of the
world. The metro stop only adds to the Louvre's history of displaying
power.
Many of
the powerful made their mark on the Louvre quite literally. King
placed their initials in pediments and arch ways on the whole
exterior.
The oldest
sections of the Louvre still standing were built by François I and
Henri II. In between two columns there is a crown on top of and “H”.
This “H” stands for Henri II and above that is his royal initial,
two “D's” inverted and placed on top an “H”.
He argued
they were not “D's” (which symbolized his mistress) but that they
where really two outward facing “C's” (his wife). Under the “H”
there are two olive branches which are a symbol for bringing peace.
So make no mistake when you view this wall of the Louvre. It was
build by Henri II, he was a victorious leader (at least according to
him), and he preferred his mistress to his wife.
Some
messages and propaganda, like picture symbols, where meant to be less
obvious. Or as less obvious as you can get by putting a bust of your
self in a pediment and placing it on the front your home.
The
pediment I am talking about is the one on the Louvre facing the
center of Paris, built by Louis XIV. His bust appears in the center
being adoringly addressed to by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and
victory.
Below the
pediment are a “cornucopia” of symbols surrounding a window.
These symbols represent the blessings that come with peaceful times
brought to you by yours truly, Louis. These symbols include images
such as musical instruments and palettes which represent having time
for culture and not being busy losing battles. It also includes two
actual large cornucopias which represent nourishment and overflowing
abundance, literally meaning horn of plenty. At a time when the
Louvre was one of the most beautiful artistic object that the
majority of subjects would ever see the message was hard to miss. “I,
King Louis the XIV, am powerful, victorious, and wise. I bring my
people times of peace and plenty.” Symbols like the ones Louis
displayed say a lot but so does destroying and replacing symbols.
Getting
new people in power is common for the Louvre, so they were constantly
calling over the Exterior Designer for redecorating. If you look on
the opposite side of Louis XIV's pediment we find another Louis XIV
pediment (but not really).
During
the revolution people got passionate and passionate people do extreme
things. For example tearing down an historical pediment to create a
new pediment to express revolutionary values with new symbols of
power. At the center of this pediment there is a roster. The roster
was the symbol of original Parisians of Gaul. This was chosen to
discredit the history that included the monarchy and present a more
neutral history of Paris and France. Surrounding the roster there is
a snake eating its tail, which represents eternity. This pediment, of
the revolutionaries, says we are the real Parisians and this republic
will last for ever
(it didn't but nice try guys).
Some of
those who seized power did not feel the need to redecorate, instead
they just added on. On one of the new wings, added by Napoleon I,
there is a pediments in which he put eagles.
Fun fact for all you
Americans, the eagle is the symbol of Zeus. The eagle represents
noble nature, protection, and fierceness. (There maybe more our founding fathers
where trying to say with our national bird)
 | |
| No jokes man this is serious stuff. |
In another, like Louis
XIV, he put Athena surrounded by musical instruments and easels to
represent victorious times.
In others he put piles of armor and
weapons to represent spoils of war and victory.
Napoleon I, like
many before him, was implying that he was the best.
Sorry not this guy...
Not this one ether...
Ok here we go.
The Louvre its
self has always sent a message of power and value but so has the ways
in which it has been used.
The
Louvre was originally supposed to be a blockhouse in the 1202
(Louver
was an archaic term for block house), to send the message that Paris
is a protected city. This message was directed more at foreigners
than subjects. The Louvre later became a palace under François I in
the 16th century. While living in the Louvre François
invited many artist and art work, even Leonardo
Ok not really. It was more like this guy...
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| And lets face it he is still the coolest Leonardo hundreds of years later. |
He also brought with him his Mona Lisa when he came to the Louvre (Wonder where that went?).
This invitation by François I implied the new importance of art and culture.
Where the king
resides is where the power of the country is. So when Louis XIV moved
out of the Louvre in, 17th century, and into Versailles,
which was out side the city of Paris, it implied that Paris was no
longer as important to the king. Louis additionally insulted the
people by letting the Louvre fall into disrepair. It took a
revolution to restore those wings of the Louvre when later became The
Grande Galerie in 1793 and The Louvre buildings where unified later
by Napoleon III.
This sent the message that the people in power
continued to value art and culture.
This
Message has been more recently represented by President François
Mitterand in 1981 when he started the The Grande Louvre Project. This
project has been designed to bring the Louvre Museum up to date in
this more modern world. But the French are not the only ones visiting
the Louvre any more because this modern world is so connected. This
message is no longer for the people of France but for world.
France
wants the world to know that France values Art and Culture (and that
they think theirs is the best). One of these updates to the Louvre
was a new and more efficient entrance under the glass pyramid.
Clear
from the moment I enter the Louvre to the moment I get on to the
metro platform to leave, France is a great country (our one of many).
