NEWLY REOPENED APOLLO GALLERY AT THE LOUVRE, PARIS
by Michelle Bienias
Who: Panoramic photographer Jonas Carlson of VirtualSweden.se (Visit his website for many more marvelous panos, including more of the Louvre.)When: January 10, 2005, during a Parisian getaway weekend. Where:Apollo Gallery, Louvre Museum, Paris. What: The Apollo Gallery, one of the glories of Paris’ Louvre Museum, reopened to the public in November 2004 after a EUR 5 million (USD 6.5 million), three-year renovation. The Apollo Gallery, dedicated to the Sun King, Louis XIV, nearly 350 years ago, contains two centuries of French art from Le Brun to Delacroix. Built in 1661 under the direction of architect Le Vau and painter Charles Le Brun, the gallery was not fully completed until 1851. In all, over twenty artists worked on the decoration, which served as an example for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, also the focus of major restoration work. The sumptuous 600-square meter ceremonial gallery with a 15-meter-high ceiling houses such wonders as the French Crown Jewels, including the famous Régent (140 carats) and Sancy (53 carats) diamonds, as well as the 105-carat Côte de Bretagne ruby. How: FujiS2, Nikon 10.5 handheld, ISO1600 1/20s. “In the Louvre I was surprised that I could use the camera at all,” Carlson writes. “At some places in the Louvre there was a photo-restriction, for example in front of the Mona Lisa. But lots of people were using cameras anyway, and the guards didn´t seem to mind at all.” Another pano of the Apollo Gallery by Jonas Carlson. Related Articles:
- View Jonas Carlson's panorama of the
French Ski Resort Val Thorens
Email: jonas[at]testure[dot]com
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