Paris - Venus de Milo - 1er

Plate XIII - Louvre - Venus de Milo

Although there are parts of the Louvre where photography is permitted, generally it is at least discouraged. With the number of visitors passing through its doors daily the continuous popping of camera flashes can be very distracting when looking at the art. At times you’d imagine you are in a discotheque – and I pity any epileptic who ventures in. Although even I acknowledge feeling that human desire to sneak a shot, if you simply have to have a picture there is a plentiful supply of commercially available prints, slides and today, electronic media.

I also believe that protection of images of artworks is to be encouraged, and so despite the temptation to join the hordes of tourists who choose to ignore these ‘requests’ to not use flash photography I generally do comply. I have mentioned that the flash on this particular camera was of little use in any case, but I had decided (after all that sanctimony) that even I would allow myself one single indulgence in the Louvre, and even to treat the no flash rule a little like the average Frenchman treats no smoking laws. There were three prime candidates on my list. The Mona Lisa would be the obvious one; the Victory of Samothrace another; and the Venus de Milo the final possibility.

Something rather unusual made my decision for me. On the day I included the Venus de Milo in my Louvre itinerary, a team of photographers was in the museum (apparently filming for a commercial). Close public access to the statue was temporarily restricted by a series of rope barriers, and Venus was lit from almost every angle. As I authoratively made my way to the front of the curious crowd of onlookers a guard saw me, unfastened a rope cordon and waved me in. I guess I resembled one of the crew. My desire to blend-in in Paris was at its best!!! Not one to miss a chance, I approached the statue, crouched slightly, removed the camera from my pocket and had my own picture of Venus. I returned the camera to my jacket, turned and went back into the crowd, avoiding the gaze of the guard who had given me my lucky access pass.

Mine is a fairly typical view of Venus, but taken with no flash, no rules broken (I don’t think), and no (additional) inconvenience to anyone.

I felt good about that.