Top 20 masterpieces and paintings : the best of Louvre artwork

It is no easy task to choose only 20 pieces from the 460 artworks in the collections of the Louvre Museum. We decided to base our selection on those that are most popular with the public. Each of them are of aesthetic and historical interest. Indeed, each masterpiece is a sign of its time. Its contemporaries, like those seeing it centuries later, continue to be astonished.

1. The Raft of the Medusa

Oil painting, 16 ft 1 in x 23 ft 6 in (H x W)

Painted by Théodore Géricault in the 19th century (1818-1819), the Raft of the Medusa is not always recommended for those of a sensitive disposition as it is so realistic. It depicts the survivors (and the casualties) of the Medusa shipwreck calling for help when they see in the distance the outline of another ship that could save them.

2. The Mona Lisa

Oil painting, 30 in x 21 in (H x W)

How can we not mention the Mona Lisa? The portrait assumed to be of the wife of Francesco del Giocondo is considered to be the most famous painting in the world. The theft of this canvas by Leonardo da Vinci in the 19th century and the mystery surrounding its origin never fail to draw the crowds.

3. The Wedding at Cana

Oil on canvas, 267 in x 391 in (H x W)

The Wedding at Cana is a story from the Old Testament of the Bible. The painting commissioned from the painter Veronese by the Benedictine monks of a Venice monastery has this as its theme. It is highly regarded for the way it depicts Venetian society at the time through a bible story.

4. The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Marble statue

Standing 8 feet tall, the Winged Victory of Samothrace is one of the most emblematic works in the Louvre, and one of the most impressive. A legacy of the artwork of Ancient Greece.

5. The Venus de Milo

Marble statue

The Venus de Milo has no arms but this does not retract in any way from its beauty. Discovered in 1820, it was offered to King Louis XIII who gave it to the Louvre Museum. It is one of the most famous representations of the goddess Venus (Aphrodite to the Greeks).

6. The Coronation of Napoleon

Oil on canvas, 20 ft x 32 ft (H x W)

The Coronation of Napoleon is a work commissioned from the painter Jacques-Louis David, famous for his historical murals. Napoleon made a huge painting of it showing the Emperor at his consecration and the coronation of the Emperor Josephine. This painting depicts the splendor of the ceremony, where each person’s position was studied for aesthetic and political purposes.

7. Liberty Leading the People

Oil on canvas, 102.4 in x 128.0 in (H x W)

In the 1830s the Louvre hosted exhibitions in which contemporary paintings were presented. Amongst the works known to have been in the catalog was Liberty Leading the People. Inspired by the Revolution of the Glorious Thirties, the painting depicts the allegory of liberty in the form of a bare-breasted woman. She has often been used over the course of history as a symbol of Liberty and the Republic.

Discover the detailed presentation of Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix, at the Louvre Museum.

8. The Horse Tamers

Marble statues

Today, the castings can be seen in the Château de Marly in the town of Marly-le-Roi. The originals of this pair of horses accompanied by grooms are on display in the Louvre Museum. They were a huge success at the time and even greatly influenced the equestrian fashion in art.

9. The Monzon Lion

Cast bronze, engraved

This is one of the unmissable works in the Department of Islamic Arts. It served as a fountain spout and is thought to originate from 12th or 13th century Spain. It is one of the few bronze pieces whose origin is known.

10. Portrait of a woman

Painting on wood, 16.5 in x 9.5 in (H x W)

Known as “L’Européenne” (The European), this portrait of a young woman, which is displayed in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities, is known for her glorified face and her gold leaf collar. It dates from the 2nd century.

11. The Human-headed Winged Bulls

Bas-relief sculpture, 165 in x 172 in x 38 in (H x L x D)

These human-headed winged bulls were placed at city gates and at the doors of temples to provide protection. Standing more than 13 feet tall, they continue to impress visitors to the Louvre Museum.

12. The Dying Slave by Michelangelo

This sculpture is an unfinished work by the Italian master Michelangelo. It is thought to have been made between 1513 and 1516. There is another dying slave on display in the Louvre. They were originally commissioned for the tomb of Jules II that had to be installed in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

13. The Seated Scribe

Limestone sculpture, 21 in high

Actually sitting cross-legged, the Seated Scribe is often shown in history books to illustrate writing at the time of Ancient Egypt. This figure still has all of its original color and is in working position. You can easily imagine his papyrus sheet on his legs and his brush in his right hand.

14. The Lacemaker

Oil on canvas, 9.6 in x 8.3 in (H x W)

A famous 16th century painting by Johannes Vermeer, the Lacemaker inspired a successful novel and a film with Isabelle Huppert in the lead role. This painting depicts a young girl focused on her work. It is a faithful representation of the occupation of distractions and work at the time.

15. Gabrielle d’Estrées and one of her sisters

Oil on canvas, 38 in x 49 in (H x W)

This painting from 1594-1595 is a portrait assumed to be of Julienne and Gabrielle d’Estrées, the former pinching her sister’s nipple. It draws attention for its erotic nature, but some people assume that it also announces the pregnancy of Gabrielle d’Estrées. Her sister's gesture would indicate her future status as a mother.

16. The Turkish Bath

Oil on canvas, 42.5 in diameter

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was a famous painter of his time. In 1862, he painted The Turkish Bath, which depicts a group of naked women in a harem as fantasized in the West.

17. The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds

Painted in around 1636-1639, The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds is a painting by Georges de la Tour known for the glances exchanged by his characters. While the Cheat seems to be addressing the spectator to reveal his hand, the only person looking at his cards is the one who will be cheated. The servant and the woman at the table seem to have understood what is going on.

18. The mummy

This is the only preserved mummy on display at the Museum in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities. It is particularly well preserved and the braiding of the strips, especially in the facial area, is of very high quality.

19. The birds

Painted ceiling, 9 ft x 7 ft

The renovation of the ceiling in the Henri II room of the Museum in 1953 was an opportunity for the painter George Braque to produce this work. Two birds are painted on a bright blue background. The decoration, with large flat areas of color, brightens up the room.

20. The Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi, engraved on a stele in Babylonia in 1754 BC, represents one of the earliest codifications of laws in history. It covers diverse fields such as commerce, family and property. This historic document has influenced much subsequent legislation and remains a valuable reference for understanding the beginnings of the legal system.

To discover all of these masterpieces, PARISCityVision offers two options:

• A guided tour of the Louvre Museum lasting 2½ hours. An expert guide will share with you all of his or her knowledge of the works and the artists.
• A Louvre tour with audio guide to benefit from comments on the essential works while going at your own pace.

By booking your tickets to the Louvre with PARISCityVision, you are sure to enjoy the best of the museum during your visit. We provide you with the best tours of the museum so you can admire all the artwork and learn more about some details you would never hear of during a classical visit ! Professional guides will lead you across the galleries, not only to see the main masterpieces, but also to dive into the culture and the richness of the less famous artworks. Discover the Louvre paintings and many other masterpieces during your visit in Paris ! Enjoy the Louvre, the greatest museum of the world !