Leyte (CVA 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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Viewing the magnificent marble statue of the VICTORY OF Perhaps the most famous painting of allg MONA LISA by SAMOTHRACE, set superbly in an archway at the top of the I Leonardo da Vinci. A young French painter is inspired to make stairway. 1 V a copy. The Arc De Triomphe Du Carrousel, constructed, by Napoleon to com- A View of the Beautiful Tuileries gardens, laid out in the time of memorate his victories, and also as a gateway to the Tuileries. Louis XIV by Le Notre. In the background the Arc du Carrousel. 135 ,

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THERE ARE various theories as to how the Louvre came to get its name. Some suggest that it is derived from loup, the French word for wolf, and that originally it was a sort of fortress against these predatory animals, which even in the 14th century penetrated to the center of Paris and devoured several of its inhabitants. At any rate, the Louvre, as we know it now,.dates from the middle of the 16th century, when Francis I ordered the old fortress to be pulled down, and commissioned Pierre Lescot to build a palace in its place. Assisted by the sculptor, Jean Goujon, he worked for over twenty years until his death in 1578, and erected practically all the southern wing. The remainder was constructed under Louis XIII and XIV, Louis XIV sent for Bernini, the architect of St. Peter's to draw up plans of great mag- nificence. Apparently since they were not French enough 134 in character, Bernini's plans were not accepted, and Claude Perrault designed the eastern front of the Louvre, which is a masterpiece of its kind and has served as a pattern for a great deal of the subsequent Classical archi- tecture of Paris. One of the astonishing things about the Louvre is, that although it took 300 years to complete, there is absolute harmony in its planning and decoration. The building follows the general lines laid down by Pierre Lescot, and the decoration the detail of Goujon. Today it is a treasure-house of art and sculpture of all recorded time, from the ancient Egyptian and Assyrian collections to contemporary chef d'oeuvres. Among the more famous works housed here are: the Aphrodite of Melos, or Venus de Milog the Winged Victory of Sam- othraceg the unforgettable Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci, and countless hundreds of others.

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THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE has been called one of the finest monuments in Paris, if not the world. This is perhaps due not so much to its design and fine proportions as to its setting. It was com- missioned in 1806 by Napoleon to com- memorate the victories of his armies. Be- cause of its position, it serves not only as a memorial, but also as a gateway to Paris. Since Napoleon's defeat left many of his monuments half-built, Louis Phillipe undertook to have them completed, and it was he who negotiated for the return of the F.mperor's ashes to France. In 1840, the coffin containing Napoleon's remains was carried through the finished Arc de Triomphe with great pomp and ceremony on its way to its final destina- tion, the tomb in the Eglise des Invalides. In 1885, the funeral procession of Victor Hugo also passed through the Arch, followed by possibly the biggest procession of mourners the world has ever seen. For over seven hours, some 750,000 people of all ages filed down the Champs-Elysees to pay tribute to this giant of French literature. Under the Arc is the tomb of France's Unknown Soldier, and the Flame of Remembrance which is relit every eve- ning. It is the simplest and most touch- ing of memorials, especially at night when the dark shadows beneath the Arch bring out the glow of the flame which flickers from side to side in thewind. The Tomb ot France's Unknown Replica of famous Statue of Liberty Frances The Opera House in the bustl Soldier beneath Arc de Triomphe. gift to United States on road to Versailles mg crowded Place de lOpe1'l