What: “Building the Louvre” (Medieval through Now)
Where: NYU’s Maison Française (16 Washington Mews, New York, NY 10003)
When: Tuesday March 3, 7pm (please note new time).
 
Details of event: From its origins as a medieval fortress depicted in medieval Books of Hours, towering over the peasants who work the fields of the agricultural land that then surrounded it, the Louvre has evolved into a tourist site and postmodern logo that has been sold to other museums around the world. The recent licensing of its name to a museum in Abu Dhabi demonstrates the Louvre’s enduring image as embodiment of cultural prestige and power. Speakers will examine several key moments in the history of the Louvre, a site where art, literature, history, and politics interact.
 
Introductions:
Patrick Bray, Ohio State University
Phillip John Usher, NYU
 
Speakers:
Markus Cruse, Arizona State University
Maggie Flynn, Ohio State University
Bettina Lerner, CUNY