While paintings often steal the limelight at the Louvre, the museum’s sculpture collections offer an equally powerful and immersive artistic experience. These three-dimensional masterpieces, ranging from antiquity to the mid-19th century, bring myths, history, and human emotion to life in a uniquely tangible way.
Two of the most stunning showcases for sculpture are the Cour Marly and the Cour Puget. These vast, glass-roofed courtyards in the Richelieu wing are filled with monumental French sculptures, primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries. Originally designed for the gardens of the Château de Marly (Louis XIV’s leisure palace) and other royal residences, these works are now bathed in natural light, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of their original outdoor settings. Here you can admire the dynamism of works like Guillaume Coustou’s “Marly Horses.”
Beyond these grand courtyards, the Denon wing houses Italian masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s “Dying Slave” and “Rebellious Slave,” powerful expressions of human struggle and beauty. Antonio Canova’s delicate “Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss” is another highlight, capturing a moment of tender romance in marble. Exploring these galleries offers a different pace and perspective, allowing for a profound appreciation of form, texture, and the enduring power of sculpture.
