Watch Global Treasures: Louvre - Musee Du Louvre - Palais Du Louvre

Global Treasures: Louvre - Musee Du Louvre - Palais Du Louvre is a mesmerizing journey that takes you on a tour of one of the world's most iconic museums: The Louvre. This documentary film offers an immersive viewing experience that highlights the stunning beauty of centuries-old art and architecture. It provides a unique perspective on the history of the Louvre, which was once a fortress, and how it transformed into a magnificent palace, with over 35,000 priceless treasures inside.

The film's narration by award-winning actor Edward Herrmann sets an appropriate tone of wonder and awe for the visual feast that follows. The documentary starts off with a panoramic shot of the Louvre's courtyard, and it's evident from the outset that the focus is on the museum's architecture as well as its exhibits. The camera follows visitors through the Great Hall or La Grande Galerie, which a network of connected galleries that stretch over 600 meters. Along with impressive stone sculptures and ancient sarcophagi, these galleries house some of the greatest paintings in human history such as the 'Mona Lisa', 'The Wedding at Cana', and 'The Coronation of Napoleon.'

The viewers get an intimate look at these famous paintings and how they've been preserved for generations, despite war and natural disasters. Each piece of art is introduced, and its significance is explained in detail, which allows the audience to appreciate the pieces in context. Similarly, the documentary also covers the museum's decorative arts collection, which includes pieces such as gilded furniture, chandeliers, and porcelain. The film takes you inside each of these galleries for a closer look and reveals the story behind the objects' creators and what inspired their creations.

The documentary's cinematography is a standout feature that deserves mention. It is the stunning visuals that draw the viewers further into this wondrous world of art and history. The camera glides smoothly over the museum's ornate ceiling and marble floors, capturing the museum's incredible scale along the way. The viewers are then taken to a private tour of the Louvre's underground network that is kept beneath the public display space that stores more than 4000 artifacts in custom-made cabinets. These rare artifacts are part of the Louvre's enormous permanent collection, but only 5% of it is on display, emphasizing the vast scale of the museum's holdings.

Perhaps the most captivating moments of the documentary occur when it explores the history of the museum's development. Archaeological evidence reveals that the land, which the Louvre Museum now stands, was initially used as a fortress by the French monarchy in the thirteenth century. The filmmakers take the audience on a virtual tour of the medieval fortress, which is now buried underground at the museum's basement level along with a medieval chapel. The documentary provides a glimpse into how the museum has evolved gradually with French monarchs repurposing the medieval fortress, building a lavish palace to accommodate their entourage, and later turning it into France's National Museum.

The final section of the documentary explores the Louvre's most recent development: The Pyramid, the most renowned architectural project of the late Chinese-American architect I.M.Pei. In 1983, then-French President François Mitterrand commissioned Pei to create a new entrance for the Louvre, and the result was the iconic Pyramid. The colossal glass and steel structure provide a modern contrast to the Baroque-style buildings of the Louvre's Old Wing. The documentary film traces the construction process, starting from Pei's conceptual plans to the final installation, and its impact on the way we look at modern architecture.

Global Treasures: Louvre - Musee du Louvre - Palais du Louvre is a visual masterpiece that brings one of the world's most significant museums to life on the screen. The film is an excellent resource for viewers who are passionate about culture and history, and it provides a rare opportunity to experience the galleries and treasures of the Louvre Museum. The documentary film is an immersive experience that will leave you mesmerized and wanting more.