The Louvre Abu Dhabi is set to open its doors this month, but its namesake in Paris, the Louvre Museum, has a long history, dating back to its opening as a museum in 1793.
The Louvre Museum is the world’s largest and most visited museum; houses 38,000 items dating from prehistoric times to the present, including sculptures, drawings, paintings and archaeological finds. The arts-dedicated facility is located on the banks of the Seine River.
The French museum was originally a fortress in medieval times that became a royal palace in the fourteenth century. After the French Revolution, the facility was opened as a public museum, and it has since undergone many additions and modifications into the current structure.
The iconic landmark of France has been visited by the more than 7.4 million people in 2016. The glass and metal pyramid entrance has been recognized as much as the museum itself.
In 2007, the Abu Dhabi government struck a deal with the French to develop the Louvre Abu Dhabi as part of Saadiyat Island’s developing Cultural District. The deal loans the Louvre name for 30 years, and makes available artworks for 10 years from other French institutions, including the Orsay Museum and the Centre Pompidou, a contemporary art institution.
The ongoing cooperation between the governments has also continued, and last year (2016), the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Centre was inaugurated at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The Centre, which pays tribute to the UAE’s founding father, details the rich history of the Louvre, and also helps interpret collections at the facility to millions of visitors. It is equipped with 3D films, animations and models’, including one of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and its launch was attended by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
When opened, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will focus on bridging the gap and building connections between Eastern and Western Art. The inauguration of the universal museum next week will be attended by French president Emmanuel Macron, further symbolizing the long-standing ties between the UAE and France.
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