Louvre Colonnade, Classical colonnade at Louvre Palace, France.
The Louvre Colonnade is a classical facade on the eastern side of the palace with paired Corinthian columns arranged along its entire length. The structure forms the complete front of the Sully Wing, featuring regularly spaced doubled columns that create a rhythmic pattern.
The colonnade was designed between 1667 and 1674 under Louis XIV by architects Claude Perrault, Louis Le Vau, and Charles Le Brun. Their creation transformed the eastern facade into a symbol of royal authority and became one of the most significant architectural achievements of the period.
The central pediment displays a sculptural group showing Minerva surrounded by the Muses of Victory, representing French artistic ideals of its time. This composition shapes how visitors experience the facade's upper section.
The colonnade is easily accessible from the public square in front of the Louvre and can be viewed from street level. Take time to walk along the entire length to see how the doubled columns create different visual effects from various angles.
The facade features an unusual design choice of doubled columns throughout, which departed from classical building principles. This bold experiment attracted significant attention from architects and influenced discussions about proper proportions in neoclassical design.
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