The first acquisition ever made for the museum is a 1922 Piet
Mondrian painting, while the oldest is a Bactrian princess piece
from Central Asia. Highlights from loaned works of art include
Leonardo da Vinci’s La Belle Ferronnière, Vincent van Gogh’s self-
portrait, a rare ivory saltcellar from the Benin Empire, the Globe
by Vincenzo Coronelli, Jacques-Louis David’s Napoleon Crossing
the Alps, and Standing Woman II by Alberto Giacometti, to name
just six.
Visitors may wonder what sets this museum apart from others?
Upon closer inspection one will notice that the artwork in
the galleries is not arranged by origin but chronologically and
thematically instead, placing pieces like the French Virgin and
Child next to the Dancing Shiva statuette, juxtaposing works to
illustrate similarities and dialogues between cultures, civilisations,
and religion.
The project then - estimated at a whopping $1.3b - is one which
focuses on bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art, and
armed with the expertise of 13 French museums and institutions
steered by the Agence France-Muséums, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will
indeed offer visitors a unique experience including a brand new
journey through major works of art from different civilisations,
mirrored to reveal our common humanity.
“With a unique global narrative and a vision to explore the history
of art in a fresh context, Louvre Abu Dhabi is a place where visitors
can come to understand their own and others’ cultures. Its ground-
breaking architecture complements a presentation of exceptional
treasures that represent a snapshot of humanity’s creativity, and
paves the way for new discussions,” said Manuel Rabaté, Director
of Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The 23 galleries are subdivided into 12 chapters and begin in the
Grand Vestibule where visitors are introduced to important themes
such as maternity and funerary rituals.