Travel Reference
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Exit the room at the far end (past Café Mollien) and go downstairs, where you'll
bump into the bum of a large, twisting male nude looking like he's just waking up after a
thousand-year nap. The two Slaves (1513-1515) by Michelangelo are a fitting end to this
museum—works that bridge the ancient and modern worlds. Michelangelo, like his fel-
lowRenaissanceartists,learnedfromtheGreeks.Theperfectanatomy,twistingposes,and
idealizedfacesappearasiftheycouldhavebeencreated2,000yearsearlier.Michelangelo
said that his purpose was to carve away the marble to reveal the figures God put inside.
The Rebellious Slave, fighting against his bondage, shows the agony of that process and
the ecstasy of the result.
Although this makes for a good first tour, there's so much more. After a break (or on
asecondvisit),considerastrollthroughafewroomsoftheRichelieu wing,whichcontain
someoftheLouvre'smostancientpieces.Biblestudents,amateurarchaeologists,andIraq
War vets may find the collection especially interesting.
Nearby: Across from the Louvre are the lovely courtyards of the stately Palais Roy-
al. Although the palace is closed to the public, the courtyards are always open and free
(directlynorthoftheLouvreonRuedeRivoli,Mo:PalaisRoyal-MuséeduLouvre).Enter
through a whimsical (locals say tacky) courtyard filled with stubby, striped columns and
playfulfountains(withfun,reflectivemetalballs).Next,you'llpassintoanother,perfectly
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