France 100 Francs 1993

History

100 Francs 1993, KM# 1018.1, France, 200th Anniversary of the Louvre Museum, Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward). Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres (782,910 square feet).

The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as the Louvre castle in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. Due to urban expansion, the fortress eventually lost its defensive function, and in 1546 Francis I converted it into the main residence of the French Kings. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces.

The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed Musée Napoléon, but after Napoleon's abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and bequests since the Third Republic. The collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.

Obverse	Art (sculpture, painting etc.) Nude, Painting Symbol, amulet, talisman Libertas (Liberty, Marianne) Depicts a figure of Liberty from Eugène Delacroix's painting. The painting title in French (Liberty Leading the People) on the right, initials of the French Republic (RF) on the left. Monogram of the Atelier de Gravure des Monnaies et Médailles (letters "agmm") below on the left. Liberty Leading the People is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X of France. A woman of the people with a phrygian cap personifying the concept of Liberty leads the people forward over a barricade and the bodies of the fallen, holding the flag of the French Revolution – the tricolour, which again became France's national flag after these events – in one hand and brandishing a bayonetted musket with the other. The figure of Liberty is also viewed as a symbol of France and the French Republic known as Marianne. LA LIBERTÉ GUIDANT LE PEUPLE RF
Reverse	Art (sculpture, painting etc.) Louvre Pyramid Construction (building, bridge etc.) Louvre, Museum Depicts the Louvre Palace and the pyramid. Inscription in French "200th Anniversary of the Louvre Museum" above. Date and denomination below. The Louvre Palace (French: Palais du Louvre) is a former royal palace located on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris, between the Tuileries Gardens and the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. Originally a fortress built in the medieval period, it became a royal palace in the fourteenth century under Charles V and was used from time to time by the kings of France as their main Paris residence. Its present structure has evolved in stages since the 16th century. In 1793 part of the Louvre became a public museum, now the Musée du Louvre, which has expanded to occupy most of the building. The Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre) is a large glass and metal pyramid designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, surrounded by three smaller pyramids, in the main courtyard (Cour Napoléon) of the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) in Paris. The large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum. Completed in 1989, it has become a landmark of the city of Paris. Mintmark of the Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris in Pessac): Cornucopia (horn of plenty) Mint master's mark: Dolphin (Emile Rousseau, director of the Paris Mint 1974-1994) BICENTENAIRE DU MUSÉE DU LOUVRE 1993 100F
Edge	Plain