This month, the Louvre continues its efforts to appear more modern by inviting eleven artists to create contemporary works to display in the Richelieu wing. With most of the its “famous” art (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Michelangelo’s Slaves, Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, etc.) in the Denon wing*, the Richelieu attracts fewer visitors. Even The Da Vinci Code has nothing to say about the art in this wing. 
I spent lots more time in the Richelieu wing on this trip and enjoyed many of the treasures that I discovered. The sculptures are beautiful—I loved the Marly courtyard and its display of them in the natural light under a glass-covered roof—as are the rooms from Napoleon III’s apartment and many ancient Mesopotamian artifacts.
Here are some of the pieces that captured my attention during my many visits. The Louvre's architecture and the manner in which the pieces are displayed is often as impressive as the artwork itself. I miss my strolls through that beautiful place... 
*Baron Dominique-Vivant Denon studied to be a lawyer but ended up being the confidant of kings, mistresses of kings, and emporers starting with Louix XV, Madame de Pompadour, straight on through to Napoleon. He was eventually hired by Napoleon as Acquisitions Director for the new Napoleon wing of the Louvre and has most often been described as 'Napoleon's Eye.'
As a favorite at Louis XV's Versailles, he weathered the Revolution thanks to his fellow artist friend, David, who secured him a job as a republican uniform designer. Denon accompanied Napoleon on his exhibitions to Egypt, consequently creating the anchor for the Louvre's Egyptian department. His curatorship lasted well into the Restoration Era so Denon's influence on French culture lasted through two kings, a revolution, an emperor, a citizen king, and a republic.
