The Louvre
The Many Lives of the World's Most Famous Museum
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The Louvre
Narrateur(s):
Graham Halstead
Acheter pour 27,83 $
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Narrateur(s):
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Graham Halstead
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Auteur(s):
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James Gardner
À propos de cet audio
The fascinating and little-known story of the Louvre, from its inception as a humble fortress to its transformation into the palatial residence of the kings of France and then into the world's greatest art museum
More than 7,000 years ago, men and women camped on a spot called le Louvre for reasons unknown; a clay quarry and a vineyard supported a society there in the first centuries AD. A thousand years later, King Philippe Auguste of France constructed a fortress there in 1191, just outside the walls of a city far smaller than the Paris we know today.
Intended to protect the capital against English soldiers stationed in Normandy, the fortress became a royal residence under Charles V two centuries later, and then the monarchy's principal residence under the great Renaissance king François I in 1546. It remained so until 1682, when Louis XIV moved his entire court to Versailles. Thereafter the fortunes of the Louvre languished until the tumultuous days of the French Revolution when, during the Reign of Terror in 1793, it first opened its doors to display the nation's treasures.
Ever since - through the Napoleonic era, the Commune, two World Wars, to the present - the Louvre has been a witness to French history, and expanded to become home to a legendary collection, including such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
©2020 James Gardner (P)2020 TantorEspecially interesting to me were the slightly askew architecture, the origins of art exhibitions, and how paintings were initially hung salon style. I also finally understand what a regent is, and was amused to learn how royals view art without being noticed!
The chapters are both numbered and well labelled in the audiobook, but sadly there is no PDF accompaniment. I would have loved to see floor plans and schematics showing how the Louvre’s footprint evolved. After checking the Kindle preview, I discovered that it includes a beautifully color-coded map by era — visible when you tap the Table of Contents icon and open “Map.” Such a shame that audiobook listeners aren’t given this context.
As the book unfolds over time, I built this listening guide with historical dates and major turning points mentioned in the audio. It provides a clear sense of how the Louvre evolved from fortress to museum, and how art and politics shaped its story.
Preface / Introduction
Sets the stage for how the Louvre mirrors French identity — a story spanning eight centuries of power, art, and architecture.
Chapter 1. The Louvre’s Origins (12th–15th centuries)
A fortress rises under King Philippe II (Philippe Auguste) around 1190 to defend Paris.
By the 14th century, Charles V converts it into a royal residence and seat of power.
Gothic towers and moats hint at the medieval Paris that once surrounded it.
Chapter 2. Renaissance Era (16th century)
Francis I begins the Louvre’s transformation into a Renaissance palace inspired by Italian art and humanism.
Catherine de’ Medici continues his vision, adding elegance and gardens.
The palace becomes a showcase of classical symmetry and imported artistry.
Chapter 3. Early Bourbon Period (17th century)
Henry IV links the Louvre to the Tuileries with the long Grande Galerie.
Painters and sculptors decorate its halls, merging royal ambition with artistic skill.
The Bourbon kings envision a seat of culture worthy of a dynasty.
⭐️This is where the Galerie d’Apollon is discussed, the site of the 2025 crown jewels heist.
Chapter 4. Age of the Sun King (mid–17th century)
Louis XIV commissions grand new façades and galleries.
Soon after, he moves his court to Versailles, leaving the Louvre’s projects unfinished.
The palace remains a symbol of royal aspiration — magnificent yet incomplete.
⭐️The Galerie d’Apollon is discussed again here, with particular mention of the windows.
Chapter 5. Years of Neglect (18th century)
The Louvre drifts into decay as kings favor other palaces.
Artists occupy its abandoned chambers as makeshift studios.
The neglected structure becomes a hive of creativity and a precursor to its future as a museum.
Chapter 6. Revolutionary Louvre (1793–1815)
During the French Revolution, the National Assembly declares the palace a public museum — the Muséum Central des Arts.
Masterpieces seized from churches and royal collections fill its galleries.
Under Napoleon I, art from across Europe arrives, expanding the Louvre’s fame and controversy alike.
Chapter 7. Restored Monarchy Era (1815–1848)
After Napoleon’s fall, many looted works are returned.
Louis XVIII and Charles X rebuild the museum’s reputation with new acquisitions and reforms.
The Louvre becomes a proud emblem of national recovery and cultural continuity.
Chapter 8. Second Empire Expansion (1852–1870)
Napoleon III completes the long-envisioned unification of the Louvre and Tuileries.
Architects and decorators create vast courtyards and ornate galleries.
The modern museum’s scale and grandeur emerge, celebrating both art and empire.
Chapter 9. Modern Louvre (1871–1945)
The Tuileries burns during the turmoil of 1871.
Through wars and occupations, curators protect and relocate thousands of artworks.
By World War II, the museum stands as a symbol of survival and cultural resilience.
⭐️Tip: I recommend The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland as the best book on how the Louvre’s works were protected from Hitler’s looting in WWII.
Chapter 10. The Grand Louvre (1945–present)
Postwar restoration renews the museum’s purpose.
François Mitterrand’s “Grand Louvre” project and I.M. Pei’s 1989 pyramid unite old and new.
The Louvre becomes a beacon of modern France — open, global, and ever evolving.
Epilogue
Across nine centuries, the Louvre evolves from fortress to world class museum.
Its walls hold not only masterpieces but the layered history of France itself.
Edition details below refer to the Audible audiobook I listened to:
The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum
Written by: James Gardner
Narrated by: Graham Halstead
RELEASE DATE 2020-08-04
FORMAT Unabridged Audiobook
LENGTH 12 hrs and 47 mins
PUBLISHER Tantor Audio
©2020 James Gardner (P)2020 Tantor
A timely post-heist listen
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