The Hour of Revolution

S01 E02 • Saturday, Jul 9, 2016 • Jul 9

The move of Louis XIV at Versailles in 1682 halted work at the Louvre. Occupied by the French Academy, then by the Academy of Fine Arts, it becomes the center of French artistic life. The philosophers of the Enlightenment, led by Diderot and Voltaire, dreamed of transforming it into the great museum of the nation. Their aspiration came true during the French Revolution with the opening of the Museum of Arts in 1793. The curious flocked from all over Europe to admire the paintings from the royal collections. With Napoleon I, the museum took on a new lease of life. In 1802, the Emperor entrusted its administration and expansion to Vivant Denon, who had the ambition to make it the ideal museum. At the same time, the scientists who accompanied the imperial military campaigns were taking possession of a number of priceless pieces. Important building sites were relaunched, which were compromised due to the defeat of Waterloo in 1815 and the fall of the empire.