Louvre: The Poster Child for Power

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 16^th century. While living in the Louvre François invited many artist and art work, even Leonardo 

Ok not really. It was more like this guy...

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, 17^th 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).