On today’s tour, we visited the Louvre. I was amazed by how grand the compound is and was stunned by its beauty. After taking a personal tour of my own near the pyramids for about twenty minutes, which felt like ten because I was captivated by the scenery, we were greeted by our tour guide. While she introduced us to countless artifacts and monuments from centuries ago, I was mostly intrigued by a few. 

I especially loved the wing of the museum that displayed the personal collections of past kings. Seeing the Kings personal collections gave me a sense of knowing them a little better than what you would read in storybooks or on the internet. It is one thing to see the palace or castles they lived in and it is another to see the items they collected. I believe that you can learn a little about a person by seeing where they live and how they carry themselves, but you can learn more about them by the personal items they choose to collect. I say this because a King often builds/design their homes for reasons outside of their personal taste to accommodate what people expect of him, to intimidate their enemies, or for personal protection. While collecting personal items is only for themselves. It often serves no other purpose outside of their own pleasure. 

Another thing I found quite interesting is the painting above on, which apparently captures a symbolic scene from the French Revolution. It evokes a feeling inevitable victory and I cannot help but to notice some similarities between her and the Statue of Liberty, found in New York. Both women represent liberty and they are both posed in a way that stands above all. The portrayal of these women leaves an impression of great power and influence.