Abu Dhabi: A monumental statue takes pride of place in the A World in Perspective gallery at Louvre Abu Dhabi, but it’s the paintings surrounding it that mesmerise visitors.
The statue is a 16th-century French copy of the classical marble statue depicting the Greek deity Apollo as an archer. It provides a regal presence to the gallery that holds one of the most talked about pieces at the Louvre Abu Dhabi: Italian polymath Leonardo Da Vinci’s portrait of a lady, the La Belle Ferronniere. First-time visitors and museum buffs alike cannot help, but admire the skill and mastery of the artist, and the naturalness of the subject’s features and clothing is a representation of the growing focus on bringing about realism in the arts during this time.
This was supported by Arab scholar Ibn Al Haytham, who wrote a seven-volume treatise on optics, vision theory and the anatomy of the eye.
A 16th century Latin copy of this produced in Switzerland is on display at the museum, placed under an extremely realistic 1628 oil-on-wood painting from Netherlands that presents a three-dimensional scene.
A portrait of English politician and poet Sir Thomas Wyatt is equally captivating, having been painted by one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century, Hans Holbein the Younger.
A glass case also holds two rows of striking ceramic dishes sourced from China and the Ottoman empire, while a woodworked door shows the geometric motifs that are staple of Islamic art and architecture.
On your way out, you may notice two paintings by Italian artists that appear to be engaging in a dialogue between the sexes: Titian’s Woman with a Mirror and Dosso Dossi’s Portrait of a Man.
Timings and entry fee: 10am-8pm on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday; 10am-10pm on Thursday and Friday
Dh60: Adults
Dh30: 13-22 years
Dh30: Education professionals
Free entry: Children under 13. Members of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Art Club loyalty programme, journalists, visitors with specials needs and their companions
