With her mysterious smile and smokey gaze, Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” will be given a private room at the Louvre, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron. An astonishing 8.7 million visitors are said to visit the Louvre yearly, with 20,000 of those daily sightings dedicated solely to the entrancing “Mona Lisa.”
Her fame has caused overcrowding, with other divine artworks often overlooked. Macron’s announcement brings an exciting future for the Louvre. Recognizing the much-needed upgrade for the notorious “Mona Lisa,” the museum said it “needs a space big enough to welcome its many admirers.”
The renovation is expected to conclude in 2031. The expansion is for those who wish to see only the “Mona Lisa,” which currently resides in the Louvre’s largest room, the Salle des États. The masterpiece will be “moved to a private room under the Cour Carrée and will have a separate entrance and access ticket,” according to ArtReview.
This expansion will build upon Edmond Guillaume’s enchanting glass pyramid, which increases natural light and prevents glaring on the artwork. New plans to uncover subterranean rooms will allow for multiple spaces for exhibitions.
“As part of the renovation, an international architecture competition will be launched to design the new entrance, which will be located on the museum’s eastern facade,” according to ArchDaily.
The “Mona Lisa” is accompanied by incredible works, including dazzling Venetian paintings, Titian’s “Pastoral Concert,” the “Coronation of the Virgin (Paradise),” and Veronese’s “La Bella Nani.” Directly displayed across from her, at an astonishing 10 meters wide, is “The Wedding Feast at Cana” by Veronese.
Recognizing the breathtaking yet overlooked paintings shared in the Salle des États, NPR added, “If the other paintings in the room that house the ‘Mona Lisa’ at the Louvre Museum in Paris could talk, they might be whispering ‘good riddance!’ to one another right now.”
The renovation will provide the painting its own space, as well as enhanced safety and ease of visitation to mitigate crowd control. It will also add insulation and repair any current signs of deterioration.
Funded by the Louvre itself and other grants, private ticket sales will also provide financial support. The workers’ and visitors’ experience will be enhanced through the addition of restrooms and more seating areas, giving the museum the renovation it deserves.
