Inventing le Louvre: From Palace to Museum over 800 Years

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

1/F Thematic Galleries 1, 2, 3, 4 & Function Place

26 April 2017 – 24 July 2017

Jointly presented by Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Le French May

Jointly organised by Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Louvre Museum

Exhibition made possible with major support by The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Charities Trust

Major sponsor: BNP Paribas

Supported by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau

The Louvre Museum is a world-renowned museum. "Inventing le Louvre" proposes a large, brilliant selection of works and masterworks from all the Louvre's departments. It explores the history of the Louvre from modern times, marked by renovations and profound changes (architectural, functional and museographical), to the origins of the very idea of the museum, born from the royal collections of François I and Louis XIV. Along the way, the exhibition explores the contributions of Napoleon I and the visionary ideas of the "Republics" and intellectual movements that followed. Throughout the 20th century, the Louvre Museum continued to expand, increasing the number of outstanding collections. This led to the museum's frequent introduction of new financial and administrative means to keep its vitality and charm as one of the most important museums in the world.

The exhibition illustrates the diversity and richness of the museum's collections, displaying paintings, sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, etc. The artworks in the collection are also from different periods. We hope that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will enable as many people as possible to appreciate these art treasures and explore the history of the Louvre, travelling on a 800-year journey interweaving art and history.

Admission Fee

Standard (Adult)	Group (Group of 20 persons or More)	Concessionary#
Wednesdays to Mondays: $20	Wednesdays to Mondays: $14	Wednesdays to Mondays: $10

#Full-time students, people with disabilities and one accompanying carer, senior citizens aged 60 or above
Box Office will be closed 30 minutes before the Museum closes.
Holders of valid Museum Pass enjoy unlimited free admission to the above Special Exhibition.

Exhibition Flyer

Supplementary Information for Selected Exhibits

Exhibit Highlights

© RMN-Grand Palais (musée du Louvre) / Stéphane Maréchalle

Saint Sebastian Bound for Martyrdom
Anthony van Dyck
Oil on canvas
Circa 1617–1619
Department of Paintings, Louvre Museum (M.I. 918)

© RMN - Grand Palais (Musée du Louvre) / Thierry Ollivier

Equestrian Statue of Louis XIV as a Roman Emperor
François Girardon
Statue: bronze; base: ebony with copper and brass marquetry, gilded bronze
Early 18th century
Department of Decorative Arts, Louvre Museum (OA10567)

© Musée du Louvre, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Thierry Ollivier

Jean de la Fontaine (1621–1695),Writer
Pierre Julien
Marble
1785
Department of Sculptures, Louvre Museum (R.F. 2983)

© RMN-Grand Palais (musée du Louvre) / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Round Bowl with Cover
Agate and enameled gold
Circa 1640–1650
Department of Decorative Arts, Louvre Museum (MR227)

© RMN-Grand Palais (musée du Louvre) / Gérard Blot/ Rinaldo in the Enchanted Forest/ Jean-Honoré Fragonard/ Oil on canvas/ Circa 1761–1765/ Department of Paintings, Louvre Museum (R.F 2003-11)

Rinaldo in the Enchanted Forest
Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Oil on canvas
Circa 1761–1765
Department of Paintings, Louvre Museum (R.F 2003-11)

Horse Head (fragment of a statue)
Marble
Circa 510–500 b.c.
Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Louvre Museum (MNE 1317) (Ma 5143)

© Musée du Louvre, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Daniel Lebée / Carine Déambrosis/ Horse Head (fragment of a statue)/ Marble/ Circa 510–500 b.c./ Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Louvre Museum (MNE 1317) (Ma 5143)

© RMN-Grand Palais (musée du Louvre) / Gérard Blot/ Christ Healing the Sick or The Hundred-Guilder Print/ Rembrandt van Rijn/ Drypoint, etching, burin; 1st state/ Circa 1649/ Edmond de Rothschild Collection, Department of Prints & Drawings, Louvre Museum (2382 LR)

Christ Healing the Sick or The Hundred-Guilder Print
Rembrandt van Rijn
Drypoint, etching, burin; 1st state
Circa 1649
Edmond de Rothschild Collection, Department of Prints & Drawings, Louvre Museum (2382 LR)

Statue of Prince Gudea, Dedicated to the Goddess Bau
Diorite
Neo-Sumerian period, Circa 2120 b.c.
Department of Near Eastern Antiquities, Louvre Museum (AO 6)

© Musée du Louvre, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Thierry Ollivier/ Statue of Prince Gudea, Dedicated to the Goddess Bau/ Diorite/ Neo-Sumerian period, Circa 2120 b.c. / Department of Near Eastern Antiquities, Louvre Museum (AO 6)

Exhibition Shots

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