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"Adventures in the Louvre" The Consultation Room

I have been listening to Adventures in the Louvre by Elaine Sciolino after hearing about the book here on the forum. I would definitely recommend reading it prior to a second trip to The Louvre. In the book, Sciolino writes about La Salle de Consultation or The Consultation Room. Here, exhibits that are too light sensitive to be kept on permanent display can be viewed close up and personal. Apparently, there are about 246,000 works. The website page of la salle de consultation gives instructions on who to email to get an appointment. One is supposed to include a list of up to 10 works that are being requested. Sciolino suggests just stopping by and she says that sometimes if you try to get an appointment the email is ignored, but they won't turn you away if you just show up. There is a link to a search engine to look up the catalog numbers of the works you want to see. Sciolino quotes the curator as saying that it is a shame that only 800 people per year take advantage of this opportunity. It is a free service and you don't need a museum ticket.

WOW, this blew me away!
Have any of you done this before? If yes, please, please share your experience.
I am going to attempt doing this for sure!
The advice I need is regarding how to choose 10 works for myself and 10 for my son. I haven't quite figured out how to look up something that I don't know exists. I will be looking for a list of the works, but if you have any ideas, please share.

Posted by
15825 posts

I, too, found this part of her book slightly shocking! I can’t wait to hear how it works out fir you.

As to how to choose, if you have a favorite artist I’d go to the collections part of the Louvre website and browse the database on what they’ve got that’s not on display. I just looked at Claude Monet because they do have some of his work in the Louvre but there were too many hits for me to search thru on my iPad (currently traveling and waiting for breakfast to start, lolol!) plus they list things that are in the Orsay. I went to the other end of the spectrum and searched Vermeer but there are only the 2 listings which are his works that are hanging.

I’m sure the experience will be interesting if not awesome. Years ago I went to the heritage and archive center in Yellowstone and asked to see the original artwork from Thomas Moran from the 1871 Geological Survey he was on. The staffer took me to the flat drawer filing cabinets and she and I looked thru them. Gobsmacked!

Posted by
1683 posts

Thanks Pam!
I just ordered a book on ebay about the Rothschild Collection. That should get me started.
I will update the thread as I get more information.

Posted by
11217 posts

This is where art historians study works on paper and other fragile documents. Try pre 1874 artists which is what the Louvre houses, aside from donations that can’t be separated: Rembrandt, Durer, both created a lot of works on paper.