June 27, 2019 was the day before our last soccer game in France. We spent it at the Louvre. These are the pieces and experiences that struck me the most.
Spring term of 2019 I took a pen and ink class at the MFA in Boston. We learned exactly this technique of using standard tan colored paper stock, and lightening and darkening the illustration with black and white ink. I absolutely love working in this style myself, and was pleased to see a whole gallery on the hallway into the main part of the Louvre dedicated to examples of this type of work.
Pen and White and Black Ink at the Louvre, June 27, 2019 
Pen and White and Black Ink at the Louvre, June 27, 2019
Next we viewed the ancient Egyptian art. These blue hippos are the best, you can see examples of them in Providence, RI, and New York. Of course there’s one here.
These carved wall reliefs are just beautiful. The Brooklyn Museum has a display showing how the artisans created them, if you’re nearby and curious.
Ancient Egyptian Carving at the Louvre, June 27, 2019 
Ancient Egyptian Sculpture at the Louvre, June 27, 2019
Below are snapshots of the same piece from two different angles to see how the carving is recessed in the stone.
Egyptian Carving at the Louvre, June 27, 2019 
Egyptian Carving at the Louvre, June 27, 2019
The Ancient Persian art was next after the Egyptian galleries. They also use the aqua colored glazing that the Egyptians mastered with those hippos. The three following images were quite large on the wall, these photos don’t show their size properly.
I wish I got a photo of the information card for these signet rolls below. They are thousands of years old, and I believe they are used for commerce. The Harvard Art Museums have examples of these cylinders. The designs are clever and repeating. Nothing new under the sun, people always needed their brands with eye catching designs, even four plus thousand years ago.
From Egypt to Persia to Europe. The word is 12,000 people visit the Louvre a day in normal times. I believe this 100%.
We made our way to the lunch café overlooking the center courtyard.
Next, the Mona Lisa.
the heck?
Grab a snapshot as you shuffle by in the crowd to prove you were there.
Jean d’Arc is everywhere and I love it.
Arcimboldo depicted the four seasons as people made entirely of food.
Musical instruments!
I feel Iike this was a dream I had.
SOoooooo much lovely art.
Dramatic clothes.
Pssst, I like this Da Vinci more than the Mona Lisa.
This artist’s work felt very modern to me. Though this may be what the Mona Lisa changed about art, adding the fogging.
This fella had a bad day, but isn’t the artwork amazing?
Gilded Fra Angelico pieces take my breath away.
Angel of Adoration by Fra Angelico, at the Louvre, June 27, 2019 
Angel of Adoration by Fra Angelico, at the Louvre, June 27, 2019
again, the heck?
I was surprised to see this work below. While working on CSO posters I snarfed the image of these demons for the background of the Angels and Demons concert poster.
Winged victories come in all sizes.
Mini Winged Victories at the Louvre, June 27, 2019 
Mini Winged Victories at the Louvre, June 27, 2019
Thought this one was lovely.
Queens have nice fabric.
Look at the varying levels of interest and boredom in this painting. So great.
Right about when we saw this view we realized we were maybe halfway through what was on display and decided we needed to come back and visit Paris for maybe three months and go see all the art. But this day we were done.
Next: quarter final game day.
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