That too
The Mona Lisa and the crowd trying to view the painting. — © Hans Lucas via AFP
To limit the disappointment of tourists and visitors, the managers of the Louvre are considering removing the famous painting Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, to be given a new place in the Paris museum. But the question is whether that move is not too expensive.
Between 8 and 10 million enthusiasts and tourists visit the Louvre in Paris every year. Surveys have already shown that the Mona Lisa, the world famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, is the main reason for that. A look at the smiling woman is a dream for many art lovers, but also for tourists.
Although there is also a downside: a recent survey – not representative, but indicative – showed that the Mona Lisa is the most disappointing work of art in the world. That has everything to do with the circumstances in which you see the painting. The large number of visitors makes it difficult to get a good look at the work in the Salle des États, where it hangs, and because of the crowds, visitors only have an average of 50 seconds to absorb it. This has already been frequently criticized.
New space
At the beginning of April, employees and curators of the Louvre met to discuss how to better welcome visitors, reports Le Figaro. And a new project, called ‘Grand Louvre’, was also unveiled there. With a central role for the Mona Lisa, because it would be housed in a new space specially designed for her. “If we do the Mona Lisa hanging in a separate room could put an end to the public’s disappointment,” says museum director Laurence des Cars. According to her, the painting does not do justice to its full potential in the current space.
“We have been thinking about moving the work for a long time,” says curator Vincent Delieuvin Le Figaro. “And this time everyone finally agrees. It’s a big space and the Mona Lisa would hang at the back, behind safety glass, so at first it looks like a postage stamp. Da Vinci wanted a direct connection between the painting and the person looking at it. That could be possible here.”
Major renovation
The move will not be easy: it will require a new entrance and two new spaces must be created in the basement. In one of those two the Mona Lisa then get a place to stay.
The renovation would cost approximately 500 million euros, a considerable amount. The Ministry of Culture is of course in favor, but in France cultural expenditure is also strictly monitored. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire wants to save 25 billion in the coming years and has already asked the cultural sector to do its part. He is in favor of the new project in the Louvre, but the question is whether he thinks it is too pricey. “But the time is right to do it,” says Des Cars. “We must embrace the painting’s status as a global icon.”
