The Galerie d'Apollon, Louvre, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

The Galerie d'Apollon, Louvre

One of the largest and most visited museums in the world, and possibly the most famous of them all, the Louvre is one of Paris's many must-visits. Situated in the 1st arrondissement, in the heart of Paris, this palace is both from an architectural point of view as from an arts perspective one of the must see sights in Paris.

The Louvre was built in several stages. It was first built in the sixteenth century when the Royal family started to move near the fortress of the Louvre. The original keep was then destroyed and it was replaced by a palace. The main architect was Pierre Lescot, who was appointed in 1546 by the king. The immense building had 2 courtyards and was 2 stories high. Its architecture combines French and Italian features.
About a decade later, Catherine de Medici started with another palace project, the Tuileries on the west side of the Louvre. Later, during the second empire, between 1853 and 1857, the Louvre was massively extended by Visconti and Lefuel.

The Galerie d'Apollon

On February 6, 1661, fire ravaged the upper story of the Petite Galerie. While Le Vau oversaw the reconstruction work, the Sun King, Louis XIV, commissioned Charles Le Brun to execute decorative paintings evoking the passage of the sun represented by the Roman sun god Apollo. The decoration was left unfinished, but includes three ceiling panels by Le Brun (begun in 1663) and a number of large-scale stucco sculptures.

The famous Apollo Gallery a sumptuous 600-square metre ceremonial gallery with a 15-metre-high ceiling, which housed 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.
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.
The 11 paintings on canvas, 30 decorative paintings on plaster, 36 sculptures of stucco and gilded woodwork and 28 tapestries that blend into the arches and walls bear the names of artists like Lagrenée, Girardon, Le Brun and Delacroix. (Source: Louvre & wikipedia)

vasilpro, tedesse, timecapturer, Sonata11, bukitgolfb301, macjake, ktanska, Cricri, jlbrthnn, Graal, kordinator, TopGeo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

giorgimer (34518) 2012-09-22 1:53

A real luxury wonder, nice details

Tfs

G

vasilpro (40233) 2012-09-22 2:08

Hello George,
Wonderful interior composition from the Louvre, excellent architectural and decoration details, beautiful light and colors!
Have a nice weekend, Vasilis

luckys (124) 2012-09-22 2:09

Good afternoon George.Extremely majestic gold chamber, it needs to be seen own eyes, I want to be here sometime.TFS/Ilmira from Russia.

dkmurphys (37399) 2012-09-22 2:27

Hi Gyorgy,
Impressive place. Lovely decorations in great golden colors. Well seen, enjoy the weekend.

Daniel

tedesse (22467) 2012-09-22 2:29

Hi George!
Wonderful interior of Galerie d'Apollon in the Louvre, excellent architectural details and beautiful decor, interesting light and colors!
Have a nice weekend
Tadeusz

carlo62 (13522) 2012-09-22 3:32

Ciao George
una delle gallerie più belle al mondo, mi piace tutto quel clima caldo con il movimento delle persone a dare dinamicità ad una costruzione statica che ha visto il passaggio di milioni di persone.
Buona giornata
Carlo

timecapturer (31250) 2012-09-22 4:28

Hi György
gloriously captured interior composition. The light and detailing are just amazing, as is the sense of history and atmosphere. Beautiful!

Enjoy the weekend - regards Brian.

Sergiom (40141) 2012-09-22 5:10

Bonjour George,

J'aime beaucoup l'effet de profondeur que nous donne ce superbe cadrage vertical. J'aime aussi le flou de la dame qui passe devant toi et surtout la magnificence de cette galerie dorée.

Bon samedi

Serge

Sonata11 (28748) 2012-09-22 6:52

Hello George,
I've been there in 2008. This place is stuningly spectatular, beautiful. We try to memerize any details from this this place,but thanks to cameras is possible today.This is magnificent and eye catching photo. Fabulous work. Thanks for sharing.
All the best and have a great WE,
Barbara

Bluejeans (64241) 2012-09-22 7:29

Ola George ,
Linda esta galeria com estes detalhes de arte , parece feita de ouro , boa sensação de altura e profundidade ,bons detalhes , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

bukitgolfb301 (30387) 2012-09-22 8:30

Hi dear George

Great shot! Wonderful golden color world!
This is the best of week from you, I think.
Description for the gorgeous decoration on the cell is also marvelous. I am surprised at your setting shutter speed and exposure, you did great job. Perfect framework and clear and sharp description as usual. Thanks for your sharing with finest work and have a good weekend!

Takero from Tokyo

macjake (39962) 2012-09-22 10:33

Hi George
this one is great to see!
I've never been to the Louvre, inside or outside.
so its a pleasure to get a peak.
i commend you on the photo simply for the sever lack of light and very slow shutter speed.
excellent depth and perspective lines.
beautiful details to be seen.
cheers
craig

siudzi (24681) 2012-09-22 11:20

Hi George,
This is for sure one of the most beautiful galleries in Europe. I am a huge fan of this place. You have achieved a really nice interior picture with spectacular golden tones. TFS.

Warm regards,
Malgorzata

ktanska (21631) 2012-09-22 11:36

Hi George,
The amount of details is astonishing all covered with golden tones. Super wide angle is perfect for this kind of scene, bringing attention to ceiling artwork. I've visited Louvre 20 years ago, but obviously I've forgotten most of it.
Kari

Cricri (87288) 2012-09-22 11:41

Hi George
Belle lumière intérieur, la profondeur, la couleur dorée et la richesse du décor, belle réalisation
Belle soirée
cricri

jlbrthnn (79787) 2012-09-22 14:45

Hello George,
This gallery is a spectacular jewel. The picture is centered clever. The light, colors, sharpness and depth are excellent. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

jjcordier (63042) 2012-09-22 21:21

George
Une bonne photo permettant d'apprécier la beauté de cette galerie et en particulier de ses sompteux plafonds.
Amicalement
JJ

Graal (89420) 2012-09-23 0:00

Jó napot George,
very nice place in Louvre. Galerie is beautiful. Good shot and symmetric composition. Photo I like. Well note, also.
Have a nice Sunday.
Aleksander

SWEETFREEDOM (18607) 2012-09-23 0:43

Hi György,
spectacular ceiling, good light management and colors.
have a good sunday.
regards
Alessandro

kordinator (13599) 2012-09-23 0:45

Hello György
Excellent composition and great photo work.
Beautiful interior of museum and nice presented Galery.
Great depth of field and fine atmosphere.
Warm regards
Saša

JFS (32425) 2012-09-23 3:39

Hola George!
Impressive shot, not easy, perfect geometry, spectacullar!
Cheers,
Juan

TopGeo (38000) 2012-09-23 4:43

Hello George,
Very, very impressive photo, very interesting note and frame. Wonderful interior composition from the Louvre, excellent architectural and decorative Nice detailed image pleasant for look at.
Excellent composition, good presentation too.
Best regards
Georgios

amaryllis (30381) 2012-09-23 6:07

Bonjour Georg
une superbe photo avec une belle lumière de cette galerie dans laquelle on y passerait des heures
un régal
merci de ce partage
Amicalement
Juliette

siamesa (27455) 2012-09-23 16:01

Boa noite George

Spectacular interior of this gallery. Rich details very well photograped by you. Congratulations.
Abraços
maria

abmdsudi (27098) 2012-09-23 19:13

Hi George
This is splendid and lively indoor shot with range of appetizing details in warm tones. The symmetry and pov render such great effect with excellent depth and perspective creating a special atmosphere but the architectural splendour is a real draw here.
Well done, TFS.
Warm regards

LOOOK13 (19022) 2012-09-24 1:27

Salut George.
A beautigul view of this gallery.
Splendid colors.
Best regards.

npecanhuk (54207) 2012-09-24 4:23

Hi George!
Magnificent interior!
Very beautiful picture!
Special regards to the colors, exposure, vertical format, chosen pov and symmetrical composition!
TFS - congrats,
Have a great week!
Neyvan

Silvio1953 (99177) 2012-09-24 11:10

Ciao George, great view of fantastic interior, loverly symmetry, beautiful perspective, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

mostafameraji (63) 2012-09-26 6:10

woooow this is wonderful.the architecture is really amazing,with all these detailed decorations and fine arts and your shot is very great.it shows all the details very perfectly,the lights,contrast,colors and sharpness is fine