Louvre: 400 Masterpieces

by Daniel Soulié

Since first opening its doors in 1793, the Louvre has become one of the largest and most famous museums in the world and, with 8.3 million visitors per year, it is also the most visited. 400 Masterpieces showcases a selection of works from this great institution, from the most famous―the Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa ―to lesser-known gems. With a foreword by the institution’s director, Henri Loyrette, the book is organized according to the museum’s eight Near Eastern Antiquities; Egyptian Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculptures; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings. The ninth and final chapter tells the history of this one time imperial palace as seen through its architecture. With its appealing format and carefully selected images, many newly photographed, 400 Masterpieces is the perfect book for museum visitors, art lovers, and Francophiles.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History

544 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kamryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course it didn’t include all my personal favorites, but that’s the point of books like this - considering they had to choose some 0.1% of the Louvre museum’s works to feature, they did a great job covering a lot of breadth in so few pages.

[Austin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book has great pictures for the most part. It's a fun book to look through as it brings back memories of the louvre. Some pictures like those of the Venus de Milo don't really capture the grandeur of the pieces. I would also love a bit more info on the artworks.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Not the book I was looking for but had a variety of nice paintings plus sculptures, etc. Most of the paintings were dark and negative though.

[Meis Katib · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book does not include any descriptions of the masterpieces... unfortunately…

[CD · Rating 2 out of 5]

A visual mini-history of the Louvre and the collections therein. With notes for each section, the book adds some interesting, though not revelatory, additions to the story of the most famous museum in the world. Each section of the book matches with a department of the museum, and includes both famed and not famed, but vital, pieces from the overall collection.

The 400 works are not always presented flatteringly in LOUVRE: 400 Masterpieces. Enlargement and detail shots do not always highlight the most vital parts of various works, and in other cases detail is not presented that is important to understanding of the work.

Bordering on long form promotional work, this is not a great book for the collector or artist.

I did find images of works that are not normally seen; there are some announcements of upcoming changes (which unfortunately dates the book immediately)in the Museums presentation and architecture; there are tidbits of information about past and present museum history that explain changes in displays and some information on accessing via the internet collections not open to the public due to fragility.

An eye catcher even in this smaller format, but disappointing upon deeper examination.

[Raneem Meknas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you consider spending your weekend at a museum or a gallery as an excellent idea then this book is for you. A virtual tour of the world's most famous museum, the Louvre in Paris. I have yet to visit the museum in person so this book was a thorough guide of what to expect there. The book itself is a collector's item, you may consider buying it rather than borrowing from someone. It comes in a hardcover 8x8 square format with silver finishing on the edge. Art lovers would appreciate it for sure!

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next best thing to actually visiting world-renowned museums such as the Louvre (our tight budgets get in the way) is being able to peruse coffee table art books that present the collections in a more affordable manner. (Especially if we borrow them from our local library for free). Logical organization, concise introductions, and professional photographs set this small but weighty tome on the highest quality level possible. It may not include the entire Louvre contents (really, what book could?), but it gives readers a great introduction to the collection.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book you will sit down and "read" per SE but a feast of visual delights to be pondered a page or two at a time, now and then whenever the mood takes you. It beautifully presented there are no interpretations only a note on the origins of the works. It is not a cumbersome coffee table book Behemoth, manageable even in bed! Look at one or two of the gems presented therein on a daily basis and refresh your mind with beauty and wonder.