Il était une fois le musée du Louvre is a documentary film which premiered in 2021. In 2024, it was shown on French and German television (arte).
Here is some basic information about it:
** German title: Weltkultur. Weltkunst. Der Louvre
** English title: Louvre Museum: The Other Story
** Writer and Director: Frédéric Wilner
** Language: French or German
** Subtitles: French or German
** Run time: 95 minutes
Several historical experts are interviewed in this film
Here are the names of the participants
Listed in alphabetical order
** Sébastian Allard – a curator at the Louvre, the department of paintings
** Elisabeth Antoine – a curator at the Louvre
** Vincent Delieuvin – a curator at the Louvre
** Louis Frank – a curator at the Louvre
** Patrice Gueniffey – a historian
** Ludovic Laugier – a curator at the Louvre, the Greek collection
** Pierre-Yves le Pogam – a curator at the Louvre
** Florian Meunier – a curator at the Louvre, the Roman collection
** Bénédicte Savoy – an art historian – she is Professor of Modern Art History at the Technical University in Berlin
Louvre is a museum of art. It is a large place. In fact, the largest museum in the world. It has many visitors. It is the most-visited museum in the world.
There are eight departments. Each department has thousands of items on display.
Director F. Wilner realised that a documentary film cannot cover everything in this museum. It is impossible. This is why he chose another approach. He decided to cover the early history of the museum.
** How and when was the museum founded?
** How and when were the first collections established?
** How and when did these precious items end up in the Louvre?
This approach allows him to focus on a few selected items which he can present in great detail.
In this film, the early history of the museum is told in nine chapters. Here are the headlines:
Chapter 1
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
This is the first item in the museum
Chapter 2
The sword of Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
This item is known as Joyeuse
Chapter 3
Stolen art: many items of precious art are stolen by France during the Napoleonic wars
Chapter 4
The Borghese Collection is bought in 1807
This is the beginning of the Roman Collection
Chapter 5
Some items which were stolen during the Napoleonic wars must be returned to their owners (1815)
Chapter 6
New paintings by contemporary painters such as Eugène Delacroix are bought in order to fill the empty walls
Chapter 7
The statue Venus of Milo arrives in 1821
This is the beginning of the Greek Collection
Chapter 8
Precious items from ancient Egypt are acquired
This is the beginning of the Egyptian Collection
Chapter 9
Precious items from Khorsabad arrive in 1847
This is the beginning of the Assyrian Collection
The Louvre was built as a royal palace. After the French revolution in 1789, the power of the king is reduced.
In 1792, the monarchy is abolished and all royal palaces become public property.
The National Assembly decides the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the masterpieces of the nation.
The museum opens in 1793 with an exhibition of more than 500 paintings
Because of structural problems with the building, the museum has to close in 1796. It takes five years to fix the problems. In 1801, the museum opens again.
In 1802, Napoleon appoints Dominique Vivant - also known as Baron Denon - as the first director of the museum.
Denon was in Egypt with Napoleon during the Egyptian Campaign (1798-1799)
Denon is a strong supporter of Napoleon. In order to show his support, he suggests the museum should be named after Napoleon. In 1803, his suggestion is approved.
Denon fills the museum with precious items which were stolen from lands controlled and dominated by France
Denon serves as director until 1814 when Napoleon is defeated and sent into exile on the island of Elba.
Since Denon was very close to Napoleon, he is forced to retire, when Napoleon is sent into exile.
The second director is Louis Nicolas Philippe Auguste de Forbin who serves from 1816 to his death in 1841.
The museum is no longer named after Napoleon. It is the Royal Museum.
In 1828, Auguste de Forbin suffers a stroke from which he never fully recovers. He is allowed to stay on, but his job is performed by his assistant Alphonse de Cailleux.
In 1841, when Auguste de Forbin dies, Cailleux becomes the third director of the museum. He serves until the revolution of 1848.
The name of the museum changes again. First, it was named after Napoleon. After that, it was a royal museum. Since 1848, it is simply the Louvre. In French:
Musée du Louvre
As stated above, this film covers the early history of the museum. From the beginning in 1793 to 1848. This period is the time of the first three directors.
# 1. Dominique Vivant (1747-1825)
Director 1802-1814
# 2. Louis Nicolas Philippe Auguste de Forbin (1777-1841)
Director 1816-1841
# 3. Alphonse de Cailleux (1788-1876)
Director 1841-1848
What do reviewers say about this film?
On IMDb it has a rating of 71 percent
At the moment, there is only one user review on IMDb. This review offers a rating of 80 percent.
The ratings are quite good, as you can see. But in my opinion, they are not good enough.
I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent)
If you are interested in the history of the world – in particular the history of art – this film is definitely something for you.
It is highly recommended.
REFERENCES
# 1. Books
A Key to the Louvre:
Memoirs of a Curator
By Michel Laclotte
(2004 = hardcover)
(2006 = paperback)
From Royal to National: The Louvre Museum and the Biblioteque Nationale
By Betty W. Oliver
(2007)
The Louvre:
The History, the Collections, the Architecture
By Geneviève Bresc-Bautier
(2020)
The Louvre:
The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum
By James Gardner
(2020 = hardcover)
(2022 = paperback)
# 2. Film and video
The Louvre:
Behind the Scenes
51 minutes
(2019)
The Louvre:
Building a Symbol
52 minutes
(2020)
Museum Masterpieces: The Louvre
A documentary series with 12 episodes
Each episode runs for ca. 30 minutes
(2023)
*****
The English title of the film:
LOUVRE MUSEUM
the other story
(2021)
*****
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