Louvre-Lens (France)

The Louvre-Lens is an art museum located in Lens at the heart of a coal mining area, approximately 200 kilometres north of Paris. It displays objects borrowed from the collections of the Musée du Louvre on a medium or long-term basis.

Its collections are displayed in a contemporary building designed by the Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, a multiple award-winning architectural firm based in Tokyo. Officially opened on the 4th December 2012, the museum now enjoys international acclaim as a unique must-see attraction.

The Galerie du Temps (Gallery of Time), the main exhibition space and the heart of the Louvre-Lens, houses a selection of masterpieces arranged chronologically, starting with the birth of writing in 3500 BC and finishing with the year 1850. Each year, some art pieces return to the Louvre in Paris and are replaced by others.

The 200 works originate from the Middle East, Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Islamic world and Europe. The Galerie du Temps is a wide open hall (125m long and 25m wide) where the objects are placed in the centre of the room in order to create a full 360° dialogue between them.

 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ANTIQUE COLLECTION

Pre-cuneiform writing tablet noting food ratios, Archives from the Temple of the Sky God, from Uruk (Irak), Late Uruk Period, around 3300 BC, Louvre Lens
Pre-cuneiform writing tablet noting food ratios. Archives from the Temple of the Sky God
From Uruk (Irak)
Late Uruk Period, around 3300 BC.
The first documents written on clay tablets appeared in Uruk IV, around 3300 BC.
Painted limestone statue of the Majordomo Keki, “head of the household”, civil servant of the Pharaoh
From Giza, Egypt
Around 2500-2350 BC (6th Dynasty).
Diorite statue of Gudea, prince of Lagash
From Girsu (Irak)
Around 2120 BC.
Gold amulet pendant, possibly depicting Teshub, the Hittite Storm God, around 1400-1200 BC, from Central Anatolia.
Gold amulet pendant, possibly depicting Teshub, the Hittite Storm God
From Yozgat, Central Anatolia (Turkey)
Around 1400-1200 BC.
Fragment of a painted limestone statue of a deceased couple, from Egypt, around 1391-1353 BC (reign of Amenophis III).
Fragment of a painted limestone statue of a deceased couple
Around 1391-1353 BC (reign of Amenophis III)
From Egypt.
Fragments of decoration from the Temple of Inshushinak, tutelary god of Susa, depicting a bull man and palm tree, from Suse (Iran), around 1150 BC.
Fragments of decoration from the Temple of Inshushinak, tutelary god of Susa, depicting a bull man and palm tree
Around 1150 BC
From Suse (Iran).
Relief depicting a hunting scene in a chariot which decorated a wall in the palace of Maradesh, king of Melid, Neo-Hittite period, 9th century BC, from Malatya (Turkey).
Relief depicting a hunting scene in a chariot which decorated a wall in the palace of Maradesh, king of Melid
Neo-Hittite period, 9th century BC
From Malatya (Turkey).
Engraved cippus surmonted by a head representing the Egyptian deity Bes, protector of households, around 750-600 BC, from Larnaca (Cyprus).
Engraved cippus surmonted by a head representing the Egyptian deity Bes, protector of households
Around 750-600 BC
From Larnaca (Cyprus).
Etruscan cinerary urn with a female head and articulated arms, from Chiusi (Italy), around 550-500 BC.
Etruscan cinerary urn with a female head and articulated arms
From Chiusi (Italy)
Around 550-500 BC.
Troop of funerary servant figures (shabtis) in the name of Neferibreheb, around 500 BC, from Memphis (Egypt).
Troop of funerary servant figures (shabtis) in the name of Neferibreheb
Around 500 BC
From Memphis (Egypt).
Terracotta statuette of Nike, the personification of victory, from Myrina (Turkey), around 190 BC.
Terracotta statuette of Nike, the personification of victory
Around 190 BC
From Myrina (Turkey).
Fragment of a fresco depicting a woman beside a fawn (Bacchic cult scene?), from Pompeii, around 30-50 AD, Louvre Lens
Fragment of a fresco depicting a woman beside a fawn (Bacchic cult scene?)
From Pompeii
Around 30-50 AD.
The Praetorians Relief from the Arch of Claudius, once part of the Arch of Claudius erected in 51 AD to commemorate the conquest of Britain.
The Praetorians Relief from the Arch of Claudius, once part of the Arch of Claudius erected in 51 AD to commemorate the conquest of Britain
From Rome (Italy).
Statue of Hermaphroditus, Louvre Lens, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, around 130-150 AD, from Egypt, France
Statue of Hermaphroditus, Louvre Lens, son of Hermes and Aphrodite
Around 130-150 AD
From Egypt.
Tauroctony relief representing Mithras sacrificing the bull (CIMRM 415-416), around 100-200 AD, from the Capitoline Hill in Rome (Italy).
Tauroctony relief representing Mithras sacrificing the bull
Around 100-200 AD
From the Capitoline Hill in Rome (Italy).
Cuirassed statue of Marcus Aurelius, from Gabies (?), end of the 2nd century AD.
Cuirassed statue of Marcus Aurelius
From Gabies? (Italy)
End of the 2nd century AD.
Fragment of a mosaic floor depicting a preparation of a banquet, found in Carthage, around 180-190 AD, Louvre Lens
Fragment of a mosaic floor depicting a preparation of a banquet
Found in Carthage
Around 180-190 AD.
Sarcophagus depicting a musical context between the god Apollo and the satyr Marsyas, around 290-300 AD, from Cosa (Italy).
Sarcophagus depicting a musical context between the god Apollo and the satyr Marsyas
Around 290-300 AD
From Cosa (Italy).

See more images from the Louvre-Lens antique collections on Flickr

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7 thoughts on “Louvre-Lens (France)”

    • Yes, there are trains running daily from Paris Gare du Nord to Lens. It takes about 1h15 minutes and costs about 40 euros return. Then from the train station in Lens, there is a free bus running every 30 minutes (except on Tuesdays when the museum is closed).

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