The making of reputations
The Louvre’s Masterpieces
The Salon Carré
In the 18th century, the Salon Carré (‘Square Room’) was used as an exhibition space for works by members of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. These annual displays, or ‘Salons’, forerunners of our contemporary art exhibitions, were very popular with the public.
The role, significance and impact of the Salons changed during their century of existence, but they were essentially places where living artists could exhibit, where the general public could view contemporary art and where art criticism originated. Artists’ reputations were made or broken at the Salons, where critics enjoyed contrasting and comparing their works.
A platform for masterpieces
The Salon was moved out of the Louvre in 1848 to make more room for the museum, and it was decided to reserve the Salon Carré for outstanding paintings, such as the Mona Lisa which was presented here for a while. In accordance with the fashion of the day, the works were placed frame to frame in tightly packed displays that covered the high walls.