The Louvre
The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, with an expansive collection and a stunning architectural structure that makes it famous around the globe. The Louvre is the world’s most visited museum, and you can’t see everything in one visit, but you can plan your own itinerary based on what’s most important to you.
When the Louvre first opened its doors more than 200 years ago, its painting collection was quite limited. It included works from the traditional pillars of Western art (Egypt, Greece, Renaissance Italy) but not African objects or modern works from France.
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a chapel inside the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. It is best known as the venue where Papal Conclaves take place, which are meetings held to elect a new pope.
Michelangelo was commissioned to redo the ceiling in the chapel by Pope Julius II. Initially he refused as he believed that the task was for a painter and not a sculptor, but he was persuaded by the Pope to accept the job. He painted nine panels on the ceiling that depict God’s Creation of the World, Mankind’s fall from Grace and Christ’s salvific work.
National Gallery Of Art
The National Gallery of Art is one of the most famous art museums in America, and has a collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs and decorative arts. It features pieces spanning over centuries of art history and highlights the triumphs of human creativity.
It was founded in 1938 when philanthropist Andrew Mellon donated his art collection and funds to construct the museum. The neoclassical West Building opened in 1941 and was later connected to the East Building designed by architect Ieoh Ming Pei in 1978.
The Guggenheim
The Guggenheim is one of the most famous art museums in the world. Its collection spans several artistic mediums and focuses on contemporary and modern sculpture. The museum also has a wide range of painting from different artists, including Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. It has recently added works by Sara Cwynar and Jamian Juliano-Villani to its exhibitions.
When it first opened, the Guggenheim caused a huge commotion in New York City. People were either captivated or disgusted by the design of this unique building. The Guggenheim was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and took 16 years to complete.