Musée du Louvre

Vénus de Milo

In the summer of 2010, following some significant renovations, the Louvre re-opened the galleries dedicated to classic Greek and Hellenistic art to the public. The complex is articulated in two galleries, formerly part of the ancient royal apartments, and extend to the famous Galeries des Cariatides. The north gallery offers a real journey through Greek artwork from the age of Parthenon to the Roman conquest and features some of the most famous masterpieces of this genre: a splendid tiara made of gold and enamel, a vase with Medusa’s head, paintings representing Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, and the enormous vase of Pergamo. The south gallery, located parallel to the north gallery, displays replicas of lost Roman masterpieces in a thematic journey dedicated to the Gods and the heroes of Greek mythology. The show culminates in the gallery of the Venus de Milo (the most visited object after the Mona Lisa). Following a long and detailed restoration process, this piece of art has been placed where it was displayed after its discovery in 1820.

Exhibition design: Direction Architecture-Muséographie-Technique, Musée du Louvre, Paris (project manager, Sonia Glasberg)

The challenge

Goppion collaborated with the Architecture-Muséographie-Technique of the Musée du Louvre in order to develop a case design solution that maintains the traditional lines and forms while integrating the state-of-the-art in display environment, preventive conservation, illumination and flexibility of use.

The solution

The clients in this project had quite high expectations in terms of how the engineering models conformed with the original design. The development of the special metal mounts for the glass cases was an important factor in this project. The mounts incorporate the LED lighting devices and the design allowed the heat from the spotlights escape. There was also a system of shelves that could be positioned from the outside, maintaining a perfect seal. The final solution was the result of a lengthy creative process during which Goppion demonstrated it was incredibly proactive in the ongoing improvement of these devices right up to their assembly. In the end, thanks to the inclusion of special light-protective grills on the individual LEDs, Goppion was able to reduce the effects of light glare and reflection on the glass surfaces of the cases and marble walls of the exhibition rooms. During the renovation, the museum – aside from this gallery – was open to the public as usual.