Paris, Musée du Louvre.

Inside the Louvre pyramid.

Museums of Paris: Musée du Louvre.

 

The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace is a 2nd century BC marble sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike (Victory). Since 1884, it has been displayed at the Louvre, and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world.

I walked into the Louvre with my fellow artist and friend, Cyndy. We walked up the stairs, past the ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace‘, with plans to visit the ‘Mona Lisa’, before we explored the museum. Up the stairs, down several beautifully adorned galleries…and taking pictures of our favorites (non-flash photography), and arrived at the room displaying THE painting. What a crush! We worked our way forward! Cyndy wanted to take a picture for her art student’s. Closer and closer, pushed this way and that, and for the final shot, I shoved her forward, and she gets her photo.

 

We had each visited the Louvre before, and we had our favorites to revisit. We separated, agreeing to meet under the Pyramid in the afternoon. I love the neolithic sculpture from the ancient Cycladic civilization, the simple forms of the faces, carved in translucent marble. This civilization formed on the islands of  the Aegean Sea, 3300-2000 BCE. These highly stylized sculptures and faces represent the female human form. They appear to be ‘Modern Art’ sculptures, but I really believe that they influenced the master’s of Modern Art.

These were found in graves, which have been greatly plundered, and have entered private collections illegally. This is really a loss to our civilization.

From the Cycladic civilization, I traveled in time to the Minoan civilization.

Again, the Minoan’s were located in the Aegean Sea, with the island Crete as their capital.

They later migrated to mainland Greece, when their island culture was destroyed by volcanic activity.

Then to the art of of the early, archaic Greek. I am really lost in time here…

My theme: a femme… le féminin. 

The Three Graces

In Greek mythology , they represent goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility.

They ordinarily numbered three, from youngest to oldest.

They were also associated with the Greek underworld, and the Eleusinian Mysteries.