Louvre

Introduction

A little bit of history

Louvre figures and vandals

Schedules, prices, passes

Fast Louvre

Oriental antiquities

Greek, Etruscan, Roman

French painting section

Flemish painting section

More foreign paint section

Italian painting section

Sculpture section

Paris-Flemish painting section

Paris main page

Paris dining world!!!!

Book a Paris hotel on line

First let’s have a look at the painting sections of the northern schools.

In the layout of the New Louvre these paintings were moved and are now on the second floor of the Richelieu wing. In Galleries 1, 2, 3 you will still find French painting of the 14th century but from room 4 up the Flemish and Dutch masterworks will be for the pleasure of viewing. Notice the revolutionary way of letting the light in (ceilings are inclined panels); lighting which is particularly benefiting for a better view of Flemish and Dutch paintings.

Vierge d'Autun

A good start is given with two enchanting and incredible capital pieces: “Le Vierge d’Autun” (1435) by the Flemish Jan van Eyck and the “Braque Triptych” by Rogier van der Weyden, father and absolute master of the Flemish primitives. Notice the luminous and exquisite landscape in the background. A great novelty introduced by Rogier Van der Weyden was to use oil painting on canvas. Between the works of the second half of the 15th century, several Memlinc (another Flemish, staying in Bruges) will flabbergast the connoisseurs: best example is “Portrait d’une femme agée” (1470-1475). “Le Preteur et sa Femme”, by Quinten Metsys (the guy from the well in front of Antwerp cathedral). From galleries 7 up to 20, you will encounter:  the “ Mendiants” (the beggars), by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, being an allusion to the “geuzen “ revolt against the cruel ruling of the Spanish king Philippe II in the Netherlands.” The card Player" by Lucas van Leyden and a few master works by Durer and Cranach.
From Galleries, three big halls with Galleries 17 to 19, great formats of the Flemish of the 17th century. It’s here that we must confess that Rubens had a great predominance on the Flemish school in the 17th century and that it is here, in the Louvre, that you have a great example: 24 works of Rubens narrating the life of Marie de Medicis.
The next galleries house two admirable portraits that the artists made of his second wife, Helene Fourment and his children, and this “Kermesse”, whirling and

Charles 1st (Van Dijck)

 buzzing with life, taken by a lot of other artists as example and study object (Watteau, Fragonard, Delacroix….).
But Flemish art didn’t stop with Rubens. His pupil like Anthony van Dijck  (from the same city as jack: Antwerp) shows here some of his better work. Van Dijkck left a lot of Charles the 1st", the one in the Louvre is seen as the most beautiful. As well as the “the four Evangelists” for one of the better first works of Jacob Jordaens.
From galleries 31 up all is dedicated to the Dutch school: Rembrandt and his followers will not name the number of the gallery anymore. I forgot to note them and anyway you will find rather quickly the works I advise you to make a little pause. But that’s for next essay.