the louvre just made its entire art collection available online for free

the louvre has just made its entire art collection available online, allowing people around the globe to immerse into the world of art and history from home, and for free. the newly introduced collections database includes more than 480,000 works from the french museum, as well as from the musée national eugène-delacroix, the tuileries and carrousel gardens sculptures. the platform also features so-called ‘MNR’ (musées nationaux récupération, or national museums recovery) pieces, that were found after world war II and were handed over to the louvre until they can return to their legitimate owners.

mona lisa, also known as la gioconda or la joconde, by leonardo da vinci
all images courtesy of the louvre

the website showcases artworks from the louvre’s eight departments, ranging from islamic art and renaissance sculptures to egyptian antiquities and paintings from artists all over the world. the online platform allows art lovers and researchers to explore the works through simple or advanced researches, entries by each curatorial department and even themed albums. in addition, an online interactive map guides online visitors room by room, and is available in french, english, spanish and chinese.

virgin and child with saint anne by leonardo da vinci

‘today, the louvre is dusting off its treasures, even the least-known,’ jean-luc martinez, president-director of the musée du louvre, shares. ‘for the first time, anyone can access the entire collection of works from a computer or smartphone for free, whether they are on display in the museum, on loan, even long-term, or in storage. the louvre’s stunning cultural heritage is all now just a click away! I am sure that this digital content is going to further inspire people to come to the louvre to discover the collections in person.’

portrait of lucrezia crivelli, also known as la belle ferroniere, by leonardo da vinci