The Louvre

TravelerThis painting is “Madonna della Vittoria” (Madonna of Victory) by Andrea Mantegna, an Italian Renaissance painter. It’s housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, as indicated in your screenshot. About the Painting: • Artist: Andrea Mantegna • Title: Madonna della Vittoria • Date: 1496 • Medium: Tempera on canvas • Commissioned by: Francesco II Gonzaga • Context: Celebrates the Gonzaga victory at the Battle of Fornovo (1495). The Virgin and Child are enthroned, surrounded by saints and possibly Francesco II himself kneeling in armor. The highly detailed architectural elements, intricate garments, and classical references are all hallmarks of Mantegna’s meticulous style. The wreath of foliage and fruit above the figures is another signature Mantegna flourish, blending Christian iconography with classical motifs.

TravelerThis marble bust is a Roman copy of a Greek statue of the poet Homer, known as the “Head of Homer” (Tête d’Homère). It is housed in the Louvre Museum and is one of the most iconic representations of the legendary ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally considered the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Key Details (based on the label and standard Louvre collection info): • Title: Tête d’Homère (Head of Homer) • Period: Roman copy of a Greek original from the Hellenistic period • Date: Likely 2nd century AD (copy of a 2nd century BCE Greek original) • Material: Marble • Location: Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Louvre Features: • The bust depicts Homer as an older, blind man with deep-set eyes, curly hair, and a full beard. • He wears a fillet (headband), a common symbol of poets or honored men in antiquity. • This style of portrait became standardized in Hellenistic times, likely created by sculptors who wanted to give visual identity to the otherwise legendary figure.

TravelerThis statue is indeed the “Diana of Versailles” (Diane de Versailles), a famous Roman marble copy of a lost Greek bronze original, likely created in the 4th century BCE by Leochares, a noted sculptor of the Classical period. Key Facts: • Name: Diana of Versailles • Depicts: Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, known as Diana in Roman mythology • Period: Roman Imperial era, 1st–2nd century CE • Original Artist (Greek): Attributed to Leochares, ca. 325 BCE • Medium: Marble • Current Location: Louvre Museum, Paris (Salle des Caryatides) Description: Diana is shown in a dynamic pose, striding forward as she reaches over her shoulder, possibly for an arrow (the right arm was restored holding a bow). At her side is a small stag, reinforcing her identity as the goddess of the hunt and protector of wild animals. The statue was discovered in Italy and placed at the Palace of Versailles by Louis XIV—hence the name “Diana of Versailles.” It was transferred to the Louvre during the French Revolution.