The crowd of great evenings. Never has the expression been more adequate. The “Leonardo” exhibition, the largest ever devoted to the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, ends this weekend with night openings, from Friday until Sunday February 23, from 9:30 pm to 8:30 am.
A first in the history of the museum, and a success, since in just a few hours, the 30,000 free places (but which had to be reserved) flew to the museum's official website on February 11. And the lucky ones who were able to get the sesame do not sulk their pleasure.
"We had already reserved places this winter but we had lost them because it was impossible to come up with the strikes," said Pierre-Louis, a fifty-year-old executive who traveled from Nantes for the occasion. I was there at 10 am the day of the launch and there was no hassle, I could even take as many as I wanted.
"I feel like we have rented the museum for us"
As a reminder, the influx of visitors prevented reservations for several hours during the first days of the exhibition in October. Suddenly, this Renaissance enthusiast did not have to choose: he reveled in Renaissance masterpieces with his work colleagues… and his family. "We came at seven, what is it nice to visit in these conditions, I was even able to take as many photos of the works as I wanted".
It is almost midnight Friday, and his nephew, as proud as Artaban, the hopping ten, slides on the marble floor of the building ... in Spider-Man pajamas, mask included! "This opening at night is a great opportunity for him," adds the uncle. Tomorrow, he doesn't get up, and what's more, it's the holidays. You have to get young children used to coming to the museum, it's essential ”.
While the group feasts on madeleines and tea specially offered for the event at the end of the exhibition, everyone takes the time to appreciate the rarity of the moment. On the other side of the pyramid, majestic above their heads, the stars shine and the rumor of the city subsides as the hours pass through the night. "I have the impression that we have rented the museum for us, it's magic," exclaims Juliette, Pierre-Louis' companion. I tried to come to the Louvre a few weeks ago with my mom, but there were so many people that we left directly. But there is something exceptional happening. With the night, people are cooler, there is no rush. ”
"Opening at night helps meet the high demand"
If at the opening, at 9:30 p.m., it was necessary to play with the elbows to approach the works, the human tide has diminished after midnight. "I was even able to be face-to-face with each of the tables, which is rarely the case in this type of event," rejoices Juliette. An immense privilege considering the success of this exhibition.
"This will be the most important exhibition in terms of attendance that the museum has known," says Jean-Luc Martinez, president and director of the Louvre, who chained Friday evening interviews for the foreign and French press. If he refuses to give the attendance figures, the manager ensures that the public's enthusiasm for the Italian master cannot be denied. "The exhibition was opened four months, when it is usually three, and opening at night allows to meet the high demand, but also to better understand the craze around the Mona Lisa."
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Despite the social movements at the end of the year, some 9.6 million visitors strolled through all the rooms of the Louvre in 2019. This is certainly 500,000 fewer admissions than last year, despite the "Léonard" event. But as Jean-Luc Martinez reminds us: "It is only the third time in its history that the Louvre has exceeded 9.5 million visitors".