The sculpture of "The Three Graces" was done in Roman imperial times and by most accounts was inspired by an earlier Hellenic work. While many people are attracted to the Louvre Museum for it's immense collection of paintings I am almost always happiest looking at the sculpture. My favorite piece is one I found on the second floor back in 1978. It's called, "Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss", by Antonio Canova.
But every time I go back I find something new to like. This image of the "Graces" was shot on a cold, wet, rainy afternoon in the early 1990's. Agfapan 400 film. Camera brand lost to memory but most likely a Leica rangefinder with a 50mm or 75mm lens.
When I first started visiting the Louvre you entered by a small door off to the side of the main plaza. There was no pyramid, no escalators or elevators. But more to the point there were far fewer people going through each day, which meant you could almost always find quiet and uncrowded corners, filled with new (to me) treasures. And before digital cameras and phones there was no giant horde of "guests" thronging around the painting of the Mona Lisa, making selfies and ignoring the "no flash" signs. The museum has given up policing the "no flash" policy and put a much, much thicker piece of protective glass in front of the painting.
That's okay, I'd much rather get closer to the sculptures.... That's good stuff.
Yes, at one time you could actually stand in front of the great works of art and look at them in comfort.
ReplyDeleteNow people are more interested in photographing them then looking at them, no doubt so they can look at them, second hand, back home. Rather misses the whole point.