Abu Dhabi - Catch these 10 famous and sublime works of art that span ancient times and the modern era.
Published: Sat 9 Sep 2017, 11:06 PM
Updated: Sun 10 Sep 2017, 3:25 PM
The opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on November 11 will certainly mark a monumental moment in the history of the UAE as well as the art world. The museum will shed new light on our humanity - for what has come before our time, and what may lie ahead in the future.
As His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, highlighted, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will serve as an inspirational "gift to the world."
The spectacular structure, designed by award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel, will serve to tell the story of humanity in 12 inspiring chapters, from the prehistoric to the contemporary - thus embodying the common connections throughout human existence, no matter the era.
More than 600 masterpieces, created by artists from around the world, will be placed under the 180-metre wide dome. The art will include loans from world-renowned French museums, including the Louvre Museum, the Musée d'Orsay and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, as well as the museum's permanent collection.
But what works of art will visitors find inside the walls of Nouvel's own 'rain of light' masterpiece, and why are they so significant in the world of art history?
Top 10 ten historical artworks visitors should look out for on November 11
1-Leonardo da Vinci, La Belle Ferronnière, 1490
Like many of Leonardo da Vinci's portraits, which often leave more questions than answers, the La Belle Ferronniére, displays the importance of class and status during the Italian Renaissance era.
The symbolism is evident by the showy dress, painted with opulent earthy tones, as well as the eye-catching jewels, which the subject is somewhat drenched in. The sitter's posture and gaze - although stiff, which is rather unusual in Leonardo's portraits - reveals a sense of mystery, a common theme in the artist's works.
Leonardo da Vinci's invention of his 'sfumato' technique is also evident in this piece, as it was in his much loved, Mona Lisa.This will be the first time the painting will leave Europe, marking another historic moment for the UAE.
2-Vincent Van Gogh, Self-portrait, 1887
Vincent van Gogh, who was a Post-Impressionist artist, is among the most influential figures in the history of Western art. The Dutch artist painted dozens of self-portraits, which were a crucial part of his oeuvre as an artist, as well as personal realisation.
Van Gogh, who was believed to have lived somewhat of a complicated life, suffering from mental illness, once wrote in a letter to his brother Théo in 1889 suggesting his fragile state of mind:
"They say-and I am willing to believe it-that it is difficult to know yourself-but it isn't easy to paint yourself either."
The painting, which will be on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, reveals Van Gogh's fragile state of mind, with his intense gaze and gaunt features, which were prominent features in his self-portraits.
The artist ended his own life at the age of 37, and although he lived a life of hardship and sorrow, his great work will be witnessed right here in the UAE Capital.
3-Portrait of Fayoum, Egypt, Antinoopolis, 225-250 A.D.
It's one among the 900 Fayoum portraits found across Egypt. These portraits are estimated to be from the Coptic period of Egypt. The artworks are considered a stylistic, rather than a geographic description. The protests dare from the late 1st century BC or the early 1st century AD onwards. Research suggests their production ended in the middle of the 3rd century.
4-Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1803
Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps, reveals a uniformed and heroic Napoleon, who sits authoritatively, yet comfortably on his rearing golden horse, all symbolising power and status, a common theme in historical European art.
Napoleon's red cape, as well as his firm grip of the horse in one hand, while pointing upwards with the other hand, also reflect power. Because of the high status of the painting's subject, the work will most likely be positioned rather high-up in the Louvre Abu Dhabi, adding more to its sense of dynamism.
5-Claude Monet, La gare Saint-Lazare, 1877
La gare Saint-Lazare is an iconic painting by the founder of the French Impressionist movement, Claude Monet, as it reveals the early signs of industrial revolution, which forever changed European society.
The 1877 painting is in fact the largest of Monet's 12 paintings created in the same year. Monet's use of thick build-up of pigments and hues of impasto, blending ever so coherently when the viewer is at a distance, are evident in this magnificent piece.
6-Osman Hamdi Bey, A Young Emir Studying, 1878
Osman Hamdi Bey's painting of a Young Emir Studying displays the importance of the Orientalist movement in art history. The symbolism of Islamic culture, the traveller and the exotic are typical in Orientalist paintings, and are evident in this opulent, phenomenal piece.
7-Bactrian "Princess," Central Asia, end of 3rd beginning of 2nd millennium BCE
The figurative sculpture represents one of the earliest empires in Central Asia at the end of 3rd Millennium BCE. The sculpture is crucial for art historians, as it not only demonstrates historic customs and traditions of an ancient era, but also reminds viewers of the changes in art and culture today.
8-Statue of Gudea, Prince of Lagash, Praying, Circa 2120 B.C. (Neo-Sumerian period, Gudea Reign, 2125 - 2110 BC), Ancient Girsu (Iraq)
This remarkable stone sculpture, which dates back more than 2000 years, is not only a crucial piece for art historians, but also for the world, as it embodies life in ancient Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq, and the power of its kings. The inscribed sculpture was commissioned by Gudea, who was devoted to rebuild the great temples of Lagash.
9-Jackson Pollock, Number 26A: Black and White, 1948
The American artist, who was a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, and heavily influenced by Pablo Picasso, will have one of his magnificent pieces on display in Abu Dhabi. The 1948 piece demonstrates the artist's use of drip painting and his unique chaotic style.
10-Paul Gaugin, Children Wrestling, 1888
Paul Gaugin's painting of the Children Wrestling, reveals the artist's Post-Impressionist influence and why he was such a heavy influence to the French avant-garde. His experimental use of colour, which works in a synthetic method, is something Gauguin can be recognised for in this painting. Although Gaugin's work was often unappreciated during his lifetime, his masterpiece in the Louvre Abu Dhabi will surely be loved by crowds.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com
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