History of Louvre in Timeline

The Louvre Museum, located in Paris, France, is one of the world's most renowned art museums. Housed in the Louvre Palace, initially built as a fortress in the late 12th to 13th century, it evolved into a royal residence in 1546 under Francis I. The Louvre's collection includes iconic works like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace, making it a cornerstone of Western art history. Remnants of the original Medieval Louvre fortress can still be seen in the museum's basement.

1901: Discovery of the Code of Hammurabi

In 1901, the 2.25-meter Code of Hammurabi was discovered. It displays Babylonian Laws prominently, so that no man could plead their ignorance and is now on display at the Louvre.

1905: Transfer of Non-Western Artefacts

In 1905, many of the Musée de Marine's significant holdings of non-Western artefacts were transferred to the Trocadéro ethnography museum, the National Antiquities Museum in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and the Chinese Museum in the Palace of Fontainebleau.

1909: Repurposing of the Jeu de Paume

In 1909, the Jeu de Paume building in the Tuileries Garden was repurposed from a sports venue into an art gallery.

1920: Reversal of Management Change

In 1920, the Naval Museum, which had been brought under the Louvre Museum management in 1848, had its management change reversed.

1922: Introduction of Entrance Fee

In 1922, an entrance fee was introduced to the Louvre, except on Sundays, marking a change from its previous free admission policy.

February 1926: Musée de Cluny Affiliated with the Louvre

In February 1926, the Musée de Cluny was brought under the administration of the Louvre's department of decorative arts.

1928: Salle du Manège Transferred

In 1928, the Salle du Manège was transferred to the Louvre Museum and became its main entrance lobby.

1932: Redesign of Escalier Daru

In 1932, Louvre architects Camille Lefèvre and Albert Ferran redesigned the Escalier Daru to its current appearance.

1934: Cour du Sphinx Covered

In 1934, the Cour du Sphinx in the South Wing was covered by a glass roof.

1935: Rothschild Donation

In 1935, Baron Edmond de Rothschild donated a collection of 4,000 prints, 3,000 drawings, and 500 illustrated books to the Louvre.

August 1939: Evacuation of Art Collection Begins

On 27 August 1939, after two days of packing, truck convoys began to leave Paris with the Louvre's art collection as part of an elaborate evacuation plan due to World War II.

1940: Third Republic Ends

The Third Republic ended in 1940. During the Third Republic (1870–1940) the Louvre acquired new artefacts mainly via donations, gifts, and sharing arrangements on excavations abroad.

1943: Relocation of the Musée de Marine

In 1943, the Musée de Marine was relocated to the Palais de Chaillot.

1945: Asian Art Moved to Guimet Museum

In 1945, the Louvre's extensive collections of Asian art were moved to the Guimet Museum.

1945: Art Begins Returning to the Louvre

In early 1945, after the liberation of France, art began returning to the Louvre following its wartime evacuation.

1946: Post-WWII Reopening

Following its post-World War II reopening in 1946, the Louvre began closing on Tuesdays, while remaining open to the public the rest of the week, except for certain holidays.

1946: Exhibition of Recovered Artworks

In 1946, recovered artworks were exhibited in France.

1947: Removal of Ceiling Ornaments

In 1947, Edmond Guillaume's ceiling ornaments were removed from the Salle des Etats.

1947: Publication of Recovered Artwork Catalogue

In 1947, a partly illustrated catalogue of recovered artworks was published.

1947: Jeu de Paume as Exhibition Space for Louvre's Paintings

In 1947, the Jeu de Paume became the exhibition space for the Louvre's collections of late 19th and early 20th century paintings, including Impressionism, and was brought under the Louvre's direct management.

1949: Publication of Recovered Artwork Catalogue

In 1949, a partly illustrated catalogue of recovered artworks was published.

1949: Entrustment of Unclaimed Artworks to Direction des Musées de France

In 1949, the Office des Biens Privés entrusted 2,130 unclaimed pieces of recovered artwork to the Direction des Musées de France, classifying them as MNRs (Musées Nationaux Recuperation).

1950: Streamlining of Grande Galerie

Around 1950, Louvre architect Jean-Jacques Haffner streamlined the interior decoration of the Grande Galerie.

1950: Public Display of Recovered Artworks

From 1950 to 1954, recovered artworks were shown to the public to allow rightful claimants to identify their properties.

1951: Restitution of Recovered Artworks Begins

From 1951 to 1965, about 37 recovered artworks were restituted.

1953: Braque ceiling installed in Salle Henri II

In 1953, George Braque installed a ceiling in the Salle Henri II, adjacent to the Salle des Bronzes.

1953: New Ceiling Inaugurated in Salle Henri II

In 1953, a new ceiling by Georges Braque was inaugurated in the Salle Henri II, which is next to the Salle La Caze.

1954: End of Public Display of Recovered Artworks

In 1954, the public display of recovered artworks ended after four years, and the artworks were stored or displayed in various French museums.

1961: Finance Ministry Leaves Pavillon de Flore

In 1961, the Finance Ministry agreed to vacate the Pavillon de Flore, located at the southwestern end of the Louvre building.

1965: Continued Restitution of Recovered Artworks

From 1951 to 1965, about 37 recovered artworks were restituted.

1966: Mona Lisa Displayed in Salle des Etats

In 1966, the Mona Lisa was first displayed in the Salle des Etats after the removal of ceiling ornaments.

1970: Formation of the Gypsothèque of the Louvre

In 1970, the gypsothèque (plaster cast gallery) of the Louvre was formed by reuniting collections from the Louvre, the Beaux-Arts de Paris, and the Art and Archaeology Institute of the Sorbonne University.

1972: Salon Carré Museography Remade

In 1972, the Salon Carré's museography was remade with lighting from a hung tubular case, designed by Louvre architect Marc Saltet with assistance from designers André Monpoix, Joseph-André Motte and Paulin.

1976: Opening of the Musée du Petit Palais

In 1976, the Musée du Petit Palais opened in Avignon, France. Part of its permanent collection includes artworks from the Collection Campana deposited by the Louvre.

1977: Termination of Musée de Cluny's Affiliation

In 1977, the affiliation of the Musée de Cluny with the Louvre's department of decorative arts was terminated.

1978: Project Left Unfinished

From 1970 to 1978 the gypsothèque of the Louvre was initially called the Musée des Monuments Antiques. But the project was subsequently left unfinished.

1981: Grand Louvre Plan Proposed

In 1981, French President François Mitterrand proposed the Grand Louvre plan, which involved relocating the Finance Ministry and restructuring the Louvre into a larger museum.

1983: Theft of Renaissance Era Items

In 1983, a Renaissance era ceremonial helmet and breastplate were stolen from the Louvre, deeply troubling the museum staff at the time.

1984: Master Plan Proposed

In 1984, architect I. M. Pei proposed a master plan for the Grand Louvre, including an underground entrance space accessed through a glass pyramid in the Cour Napoléon.

1986: Post-1850 Sculptures Relocated to Musée d'Orsay

In 1986, all post-1850 sculpture works were relocated from the Louvre to the new Musée d'Orsay.

1986: Collections Transferred to Musée d'Orsay

In 1986, the Louvre's collections of late 19th and early 20th century paintings that were exhibited in Jeu de Paume were transferred to the newly created Musée d'Orsay.

1986: Split of Art Collection with Musée d'Orsay

In 1986, when the d'Orsay train station was converted into the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre's art collection was split, and pieces completed after the 1848 Revolution were moved to the new museum.

October 1988: Inauguration of Open Spaces Surrounding Pyramid

On 15 October 1988, the open spaces surrounding the Louvre Pyramid were inaugurated.

March 1989: Opening of Underground Lobby

On 30 March 1989, the underground lobby of the Louvre Pyramid was opened to the public.

December 1992: Opening of New Galleries

On 15 December 1992, further rooms of early modern French paintings, designed by Italo Rota, opened on the 2nd floor of the Cour Carrée.

October 1993: Opening of Carrousel du Louvre

In October 1993, the Carrousel du Louvre, a series of underground spaces centered on the Inverted Pyramid and designed by I.M. Pei and Michel Macary, opened.

November 1993: Inauguration of Renovated North Wing

On 18 November 1993, President Mitterrand inaugurated the renovated North (Richelieu) Wing, formerly the Finance Ministry site, as part of the Grand Louvre plan. Designed by I.M. Pei, Michel Macary, and Jean-Michel Wilmotte, it marked the museum's largest single expansion.

1993: Main Entrance Relocation

In 1993, the Louvre's main entrance was moved to the underground space beneath the Louvre Pyramid, known as Hall Napoléon. Access is available from the Pyramid, the underground Carrousel du Louvre, or the passage Richelieu for authorized visitors.

1994: Opening of Refurbished Galleries

In 1994, refurbished galleries of Italian sculptures and Egyptian antiquities were opened at the Louvre.

1995: Chirac Succeeds Mitterrand

Jacques Chirac succeeded François Mitterrand as President in 1995 and insisted on the return of non-Western art to the Louvre.

November 1996: Online Access to Recovered Artwork Catalogue

Since November 1996, the catalogue of recovered artwork from 1947-1949 has been accessible online and completed.

1996: Increased Publicity of Artworks

In 1996, artworks received complete and constant publicity, leading the French Jewish community to favor the integration of unclaimed goods into French heritage.

1997: Mattéoli Commission Initiated

In 1997, Prime Minister Alain Juppé initiated the Mattéoli Commission, headed by Jean Mattéoli, to investigate the matter of unclaimed artworks, with the Louvre in charge of 678 pieces.

1997: Renovation of Sully and Denon Wings

In 1997, the third and last main phase of the Grand Louvre plan unfolded with new renovated rooms in the Sully and Denon wings.

1998: Opening of New Entrance and Spanish Painting Rooms

In 1998, a new entrance at the Porte des Lions opened, leading to new rooms of Spanish paintings on the first floor.

1999: Secondary Entrance Creation

In 1999, a secondary entrance was created at the Porte des Lions, near the western end of the Denon Wing; however, it is not permanently open.

September 2000: Gilbert Chagoury and Rose-Marie Chagoury Gallery Dedicated

In September 2000, the Louvre Museum dedicated the Gilbert Chagoury and Rose-Marie Chagoury Gallery to display tapestries donated by the Chagourys.

2000: Installation of Musée du Quai Branly Highlights

In 2000, a selection of highlights from the collections of what would become the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac was installed on the ground floor of the Pavillon des Sessions.

2001: Henri Loyrette replaces Pierre Rosenberg as Director

In 2001, Henri Loyrette replaced Pierre Rosenberg as Director of the Louvre.

2001: Gypsothèque Under Louvre's Management

In 2001, the gypsothèque project was brought under the Louvre's management by ministerial decision.

2002: Doubling of Visitor Count

As of 2002, the Louvre's visitor count had doubled from its pre-Grand-Louvre levels.

May 2003: Initiative for Cultural Projects Outside Paris

In May 2003, then Culture Minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon initiated cultural projects outside of Paris to make Parisian institutions accessible to a broader public.

August 2003: Creation of New Department of Islamic Art

President Chirac ordered the creation of a new department of Islamic Art at the Louvre by executive order on 1 August 2003.

2003: Islamic Art Collection Becomes Separate Department

In 2003, the Islamic art collection, originally part of the decorative arts department, became a separate department at the Louvre.

2003: Louvre Required to Generate Funds for Projects

Since 2003, the Louvre has been required to generate funds for projects, marking a shift towards greater financial independence.

2004: Lens Selected for Louvre Satellite

In 2004, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin announced that a former mining site in Lens was selected for the location of a Louvre satellite.

2004: Delacroix Workshop Placed Under Louvre Management

In 2004, the small museum located in Eugène Delacroix's former workshop in central Paris was placed under the management of the Louvre.

September 2005: Architects Selected for Louvre-Lens

In September 2005, Japanese architects SANAA and landscape architect Catherine Mosbach were selected to design the Louvre-Lens museum building and garden.

2006: Government Funding Decreases

By 2006, government funding for the Louvre had decreased from 75% to 62% of its total budget.

2006: Increased Lending and Borrowing of Works

In 2006, the Louvre loaned 1,300 works, enabling it to borrow more foreign works due to policy changes.

2006: End of Claims by French Owners and Heirs

In 2006, the last claims of French owners and their heirs regarding recovered artworks ended.

2007: Exhibition on La Caze Bequest

In 2007, the Louvre held the exhibition "1869: Watteau, Chardin... entrent au Louvre. La collection La Caze", focusing on the 1869 bequest of Louis La Caze's collection.

2007: Anselm Kiefer work for the North stairs of the Perrault Colonnade

In 2007, the Louvre invited German painter Anselm Kiefer to create Athanor for the North stairs of the Perrault Colonnade. This marked the museum's renewed focus on contemporary art after fifty years.

2007: Agreement Signed for Louvre Abu Dhabi

In early 2007, an agreement was signed establishing that Abu Dhabi would pay €832,000,000 for the Louvre name use, managerial advice, art loans, and special exhibitions.

2008: Louvre budget

In 2008, the French government provided $180 million of the Louvre's yearly $350 million budget.

2008: Discovery of Fresco Fragments Origin

In 2008, the origin of five Egyptian fragments of frescoes in the Louvre's collection was brought to the attention of the authorities, leading to their eventual return in 2009.

2009: Payment Received for Lending Artwork

From 2006 to 2009, the Louvre lent artwork to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, and received a $6.9 million payment for renovations.

2009: Storage Facility Plan Approved and Later Scrapped

In 2009, Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand approved a plan for a storage facility northwest of Paris to hold objects from the Louvre and other museums, but the plan was later scrapped.

2009: Return of Egyptian Fresco Fragments

In 2009, the Louvre returned five Egyptian fragments of frescoes whose origin had only been brought to attention in 2008, acquired from private collections, after respecting the procedure of déclassement.

2009: Reports of Worker Abuses on Saadiyat Island

Since 2009, there have been reports of worker abuses on Saadiyat Island, including wage withholding and unsafe conditions.

2010: Cy Twombly Completed Ceiling for Salle des Bronzes

In 2010, American painter Cy Twombly completed a new ceiling for the Salle des Bronzes as a counterpoint to the ceiling installed by George Braque in 1953 in the adjacent Salle Henri II.

2010: Guggenheim Foundation Acknowledges Workers' Rights Issues

In 2010, the Guggenheim Foundation and Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) issued a joint statement recognizing worker rights issues.

2011: Artists Urge Boycott of New Museums in Abu Dhabi

In 2011, over 130 international artists urged a boycott of the new Guggenheim museum and Louvre Abu Dhabi, citing reports since 2009 of worker abuses on Saadiyat Island.

September 2012: Opening of Islamic Art Section

On 22 September 2012, the new section of Islamic Art opened at the Louvre, along with collections from the Roman-era Eastern Mediterranean, with support from the Al Waleed bin Talal Foundation and design by Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti.

2012: Engagement of Independent Monitor

In 2012, TDIC engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers as an independent monitor required to issue reports every quarter on worker conditions.

2012: Introduction of Nintendo 3DS Audio Guides

In 2012, the Louvre adopted Nintendo 3DS portable video game systems as the official audio guides for museum visitors.

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2012: Collaboration with Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Announced

In 2012, the Louvre and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco announced a five-year collaboration on exhibitions, publications, art conservation, and educational programming.

2012: Gypsothèque Opens to the Public

In 2012, the gypsothèque, located in the Petite Écurie of Versailles Palace, opened to the public.

2012: Inauguration of Louvre-Lens

On December 4, 2012, President François Hollande inaugurated the Louvre-Lens, which is run by the Hauts-de-France region under a contract with the Louvre for art loans and brand use.

April 2013: Jean-Luc Martinez Appointed Director

In April 2013, Jean-Luc Martinez became the Director of the Louvre, replacing Henri Loyrette.

2013: Announcement of Artworks Relocation to Liévin

In 2013, Aurélie Filippetti announced that the Louvre would move over 250,000 artworks to a storage area in Liévin.

2013: Report on Worker Conditions at Saadiyat Construction Sites

In 2013, The Observer reported that conditions for workers at the Louvre and New York University construction sites on Saadiyat amounted to "modern-day slavery".

2013: Contract with Nintendo

In 2013, the Louvre contracted Nintendo to create a 3DS-based audiovisual visitor guide called "Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre".

June 2014: Decorative Arts Section Reopens

In June 2014, the Decorative Arts section on the first floor of the Cour Carrée’s northern wing was reopened to the public after undergoing a comprehensive refurbishment.

2014: Improvements in Worker Conditions Reported

In 2014, the Guggenheim's Director reported improvements in living conditions for workers at the Louvre project, with fewer passport confiscations, while recruitment fees remained a key issue.

July 2015: Team Selected to Design Storage Complex

In July 2015, a team led by British firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners was selected to design the Louvre's storage complex in Liévin.

2016: Agreement Between Iranian and French Presidents

In 2016, an agreement between Iranian and French presidents was established to showcase Louvre artworks and relics in Tehran.

2017: Inauguration of Louvre Abu Dhabi

In 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi was inaugurated on November 8 and opened to the public three days later.

2017: Last Price Increase Before 2023

The year 2017 was the last time the Louvre Museum increased its ticket prices before the 30% increase implemented in 2023.

March 2018: Louvre Artworks Exhibition Opens in Tehran

In March 2018, an exhibition of dozens of artworks and relics belonging to the Louvre Museum opened in Tehran, following an agreement between Iranian and French presidents in 2016.

June 2018: Exhibition set to be held in Khorasan Grand Museum in Mashhad

In June 2018, the exhibition that was showcased in Tehran is set to be held in the Khorasan Grand Museum in Mashhad, northeastern Iran.

2018: Pre-Pandemic Visitor Numbers

In 2018, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louvre welcomed 10.8 million visitors.

2018: Record Year for Visitor Numbers

In 2018, the Louvre had a record year for visitor numbers, with attendance reaching 10.2 million.

September 2019: New Islamic Art Department Opened

In September 2019, a new and improved Islamic art department was opened at the Louvre by Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud. The new department exhibits 3,000 pieces collected from Spain to India via the Arabian peninsula dating from the 7th to the 19th centuries.

October 2019: Largest Ever Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit Held

From October 2019, the Louvre held the largest ever single exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci's work, featuring over a hundred items including paintings, drawings, and notebooks.

2019: Opening of the Louvre's Art Storage and Research Facility

In 2019, the Louvre opened a large art storage and research facility called the Centre de conservation du Louvre in Liévin, Northern France. This facility is not open to the public.

2019: High visitor numbers

In 2019, the Louvre saw high visitor numbers with an attendance of 9.6 million people visiting the museum.

January 2020: New Contemporary Art Commission Inaugurated

In January 2020, under the direction of Jean-Luc Martinez, the Louvre inaugurated a new contemporary art commission. The sculpture, L'Onde du Midi by Venezuelan kinetic artist Elias Crespin, was placed under the Escalier du Midi.

February 2020: Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit Ends

In February 2020, the largest ever single exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci's work held at the Louvre, which began in October 2019, came to a close.

2020: Visitor Numbers Plunge Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the Louvre experienced a significant drop in visitor numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and French coronavirus lockdowns, with attendance falling to 2.7 million from 9.6 million in 2019.

March 2021: 482,943 Objects Accessible Online

Since March 24, 2021, 482,943 out of the Musée du Louvre's 615,797 objects have become accessible online.

2021: Laurence des Cars Appointed Director

In 2021, Laurence des Cars was selected by French President Emmanuel Macron as the director of the Louvre, marking the first time a woman has held this position. Additionally, the museum saw a 170% increase in visitors compared to 2021.

2021: Salle des Bronzes Redesign Triggers Protests

In 2021, Louvre architect Michel Goutal redesigned the Salle des Bronzes to revert changes made in the late 1930s. This triggered protests from the Cy Twombly Foundation, which argued that the changes compromised the integrity of Twombly's ceiling, which was created to fit the room's prior decoration.

2021: Stolen Renaissance Era Items Recovered

In 2021, a Renaissance era ceremonial helmet and breastplate stolen from the Louvre in 1983 were recovered.

2022: Visitor Increase at the Louvre

In 2022, the Louvre experienced a significant increase in visitors, with over 7.6 million people visiting the museum. This was a 170% increase from the number of visitors in 2021, though still less than the 10.8 million visitors recorded in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Visitor numbers in 2022

In 2022, the Louvre had a visitor count that was less than the following year, but had an increase of 14 percent.

August 2023: Availability of Virtual Tours

As of August 2023, the Louvre offers virtual tours through rooms and galleries, accessible online.

2023: Louvre Ticket Price Increase and New Measures

In 2023, the Louvre Museum in Paris increased ticket prices by 30%, the first increase since 2017. This decision aims to support free entry during the Olympics and manage crowds, with daily visitors capped at 30,000. A new entrance is planned to ease congestion, and the museum anticipates around 8.7 million visitors this year, with 80% wanting to see the Mona Lisa.

2023: Most-Visited Museum

In 2023, the Louvre was the most-visited museum in the world, surpassing the Vatican Museums in visitor numbers.

2023: Attendance Rises

In 2023, the Louvre's attendance rose to 8.9 million, a 14 percent increase from 2022, but still below the 2018 record of 10.2 million.

April 2024: Rebranding of the Musée du Petit Palais

On April 2, 2024, a new agreement led to the rebranding of the Musée du Petit Palais as Musée du Petit Palais – Louvre en Avignon.

2024: Visitor Count

In 2024, the Louvre received 8.7 million visitors, a decrease of 200,000 from 2023. This drop was largely attributed to competition from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

2024: Exhibit About the Games' History

In 2024, the Louvre staged an exhibit about the history of the Olympic Games, connecting their ancient origins to the modern era, in preparation for the 2024 Olympics.

January 2025: Plans Announced for Louvre Renovation and Expansion

In January 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for a renovation and expansion of the Louvre, including a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa, to address the increasing number of visitors.

September 2025: Retirement of Nintendo 3DS Guide

The Nintendo 3DS Louvre guide is scheduled to be retired in September 2025, and will be replaced by a different guide system.

2027: End of Artwork Exhibition Agreement for Louvre Abu Dhabi

In 2027, the contractual agreement allowing the Louvre Abu Dhabi to exhibit artworks from the Louvre will end.

2037: End of Louvre Name Use Agreement for Louvre Abu Dhabi

In 2037, the contractual agreement allowing the Louvre Abu Dhabi to use the Louvre name will end.

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