Prompt Cast
The History and Controversies of the Louvre Museum
TLDR The Louvre Museum in Paris has a rich history, starting as a fortress and royal residence before becoming the world-famous art museum it is today. It has faced periods of neglect, served as a repository for Nazi-looted art, and even had the Mona Lisa targeted by vandals.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Louvre is a world famous art museum in Paris that has seen a significant increase in visitors over the years, with millions of works of art on display and a director named Jean-Luc Martinez.
04:47
The Louvre started as a fortress, then became a royal residence, and went through periods of neglect and abandonment before becoming the museum it is today.
09:10
The Louvre became the seat of culture in Paris when it housed three academies in the mid-17th century, which eventually led to the establishment of the museum.
13:47
In 1793, the Louvre was officially established as the French National Museum, and during Napoleon's reign, he would conquer lands and claim their art for the Louvre.
18:15
In the 19th century, the Louvre served as both a museum and a working studio for artists, and in 1986, the museum split its collection with the Musée d'Orsay, keeping the older pieces while the newer ones were given to the Musée d'Orsay.
23:09
During World War II, the Louvre was emptied out and used by the Nazis as a repository for plundered art.
27:25
The Louvre had a substantial amount of Nazi looted art from Jewish families that had been killed in the Holocaust, and it wasn't until a journalist from Puerto Rico called them out in the 90s that they started giving the art back to the rightful owners.
32:10
The Mona Lisa has attracted strange attention over the years, including being thrown acid, red paint, stones, and even having someone commit suicide in front of it, and there is a phenomenon called Stendhal syndrome where people can be overwhelmed by great art and act irrationally.
36:36
The hosts discuss the fear of being overwhelmed by great art and the possibility of someone defiling the Mona Lisa, as well as other famous artworks in the Louvre.
41:18
The hosts discuss their childhood aspirations and whether or not they like each other off the air.
Categories:
Society & Culture
