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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

The Stories Behind Three of the World’s Top Museums

ou may think of history as a series of Over the The Musée du Louvre in Paris, France
dates and events. After all, that’s what years, the The Musée du Louvre, more often just
Ymany of us grew up believing when we Smithsonian referred to as the Louvre, is one of the largest
took classes in school. However, history is so has grown art museums in the world. It is also famous for
much more than that – it is all around us by leaps and its giant outdoor glass pyramid structure,
every day. bounds, and which is featured in the movie The Da Vinci
A lot of our own history is in the objects its missions Code, among other things. Thousands of
we hold dear. For me personally, those objects expanded. Smithsonian works of art spanning centuries are held in
include a clock, desk, and sewing machine One of the the 782,910 square-foot museum, including
that belonged to my now-deceased grand- missions is to preserve works of art. The the famous Mona Lisa.
parents. But there are much larger and more National Portrait Gallery displays those Unlike the two museums mentioned
significant collections of historical objects all works, and an on-site facility called the above, the Louvre wasn’t the brainchild of a
over the world. They’re found in museums Lunder Conservation Center cares for them. single person. Instead, it began as a fortress
and conservation centers. Let’s take a peek at Thanks to glass walls, the center even allows and later a royal residence to several
the origin stories of three of the facilities that visitors to observe how those pieces are monarchs. Each one added to it over time,
not only recover historical objects but also preserved and repaired. Lunder Center staff beginning with
restore and protect them to keep history alive members are incredibly talented individuals Francis I in 1546
and preserved for generations to come. who pay close attention to detail. They work and ending with
with mediums ranging from paper, canvas, Louis XIV in 1682.
The Smithsonian Institution and the and paint to objects including various digital However, it wasn’t
Lunder Conservation Center in media files every day to ensure we won’t lose until the 18th
Washington D.C. some of the world’s greatest artistic treasures. century that plans
The Smithsonian Institution as it is today to create what was
is made up of the National Zoo, more than 20 The Getty Center in Los Angeles, CA then called the Louvre
museums, and multiple research facilities. J. Paul Getty was a businessman and lover “Grande Galerie”
Its holdings make it the world’s largest of art who amassed a large private collection were established. It later opened in 1783 as
institution of its type. Many people who live over several years. He also delighted in educat- the “Musée Central des Arts in the Grande
here in the United States already know ing the public about art. In fact, he donated Galerie.” More wings were added in the 19th
that, since its facilities are common tourist several pieces in 1948 to the Los Angeles century, creating a huge complex.
destinations. What is less widely known is the County Museum of Art. In 1954, he The Louvre as the world knows it today
history of the Smithsonian itself, which is established the first J. Paul Getty Museum. was really created in the 1980s and 1990s.
absolutely fascinating. That was when a major renovation took place
A European named James Smithson, who to create more convenience and better accessi-
was also a renowned mineralogist and bility for visitors, as well as better security.
chemist, was responsible for the birth of the The result was the addition of a large under-
Smithsonian. He left his estate to his nephew ground complex of shops, offices, parking
Henry James Hungerford—the son of structures, and much more. Since then, there
Smithson’s half-brother Henry Louis have also been several wing remodels and
Dickinson—when he died in 1829 at the age expansions. The Louvre has also opened a
of 64, but there was a contingency clause in couple satellite locations more recently.
his will. It said that, upon his nephew’s death,
the estate was to go to the United States of Other Facilities Around the World
America to found what is now the Getty Museum It’s important to note these are just three
Smithsonian, provided his nephew had no of the fantastic
heirs at the time of his own death. In 1835, After he died in 1976, a pre-established museums that can
Hungerford died at a young age (28) and museum trust ensured the museum would be found around
without heirs, and the wheels were set in continue on. Trustees have expanded the the globe. There
motion to transfer center quite a bit. Today, it includes conserva- are many thou-
the holdings to the tion and research institutions. sands of them
U.S. government. The Getty Center trustees and staff right here in the
The question is why, members have many talents and missions. United States.
and that answer is They include archaeologists, architects, Whether large or
still unknown. Mr. scientists, and more. The Trust itself small, each one
Smithson never contributes to worldwide art education. It focuses on keeping
visited the country, does so using a grant program designed to some aspect of
and nobody can bring Mr. Getty’s passion for art to everyone history alive for
figure out why he around the world. The Getty Research everyone to enjoy.
would have left his Institute’s Research Library also contains Each one also has
estate to it. It’s a approximately 1,400,000 rare periodicals and its own history
James Smithson complete mystery. books and is constantly growing. worth learning. Mona Lisa

Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance researcher and writer since 2001. She developed a passion for 1980s pre-1980s TV and films as a kid, and she has never grown out of it. Recently, she turned that
passion into a retro TV and film blog. Follow along with her at https://medium.com/@jkos_writing, as she dives deep into the characters, actors, quirks, and trivia that brought us some of the greatest
films and shows in TV history and also discusses some of the more obscure films and shows most of us may have forgotten.

36 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles