Most visitors sprint directly to the Venus de Milo and ignore the treasures hanging in the hallways along the way. Since the collection holds 35,000 objects, some of the most powerful Louvre Museum artworks sit in quiet corners waiting to be discovered.
We recommend finding The Raft of the Medusa during your visit. This massive painting depicts a starving crew on a shipwreck, and the artist actually used real corpses as models to get the skin tone exactly right. It is a terrifying, brilliant piece of political commentary. You should also look for Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss because the marble looks soft enough to bruise under a touch.
Finding these highlights of the Louvre Museum requires a slower pace and a keen eye. Because the museum was a palace before it was a gallery, the layout can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Our Louvre guided tours always pause at these dramatic works to ensure you see the masterpieces that do not always appear on the souvenir mugs.
