Abu Dhabi: To mark Louvre Abu Dhabi’s fifth anniversary, the world’s renowned masterpiece, Saint John the Baptist, by the Renaissance icon Leonardo da Vinci has arrived at the museum. On loan from Musée du Louvre for a period of two year, the painting was hung at Louvre Abu Dhabi today in the presence of H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Vincent Delieuvin, Curator of Italian paintings of the XVI Century at musée du Louvre – Department of Paintings, and other dignitaries. The painting is available for public viewing in Chapter 7 at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s galleries starting November 8.

Known for being one of the most famous paintings in the Louvre, Saint John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci represents the utmost peak of the Tuscan master’s genius, along with the entire Renaissance movement. Left unfinished at the death of the artist, the painting once belonged to very prestigious owners, including King Charles I of England, followed by France’s King Louis XIV, before joining the Musée du Louvre, after its opening in 1793.

The presentation of Saint John the Baptist at Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of a series of four major loans made by the Musée du Louvre, following the intergovernmental agreement extension, signed on December 3, 2021, between Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, then French Minister of Culture, and H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Louvre Abu Dhabi will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a spectacular line-up of cultural and educational events, activities, and programming. Set to be held under the theme The Grand Story Continues, tickets and information on the museum’s fifth anniversary programming can be found on www.louvreabudhabi.ae

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Starting 15 November 2022, Louvre Abu Dhabi is changing its operating hours. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am till midnight, and is closed on Mondays. The museum’s galleries and exhibitions close at 6:30 pm on weekdays (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and at 8:30 pm on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

Admission tickets are required to visit the museum during galleries opening hours. Those wishing to visit Louvre Abu Dhabi after the galleries close can enter the museum without an admission ticket (free of charge) from the south entrance gate. The gate closes at 11 pm.

For more information and to buy tickets, please visit the museum’s website.

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ABOUT LOUVRE ABU DHABI

Created by an exceptional agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Jean Nouvel and opened on Saadiyat Island in November 2017. The museum is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and its monumental dome creates a rain of light effect and a unique social space that brings people together.

Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates the universal creativity of mankind and invites audiences to see humanity in a new light. Through its innovative curatorial approach, the museum focuses on building understanding across cultures: through stories of human creativity that transcend civilisations, geographies and times.

The museum’s growing collection is unparalleled in the region and spans thousands of years of human history, including prehistoric tools, artefacts, religious texts, iconic paintings and contemporary artworks. The permanent collection is supplemented by rotating loans from 13 French partner institutions, regional and international museums.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is a testing ground for new ideas in a globalised world and champions new generations of cultural leaders. Its international exhibitions, programming and Children’s Museum are inclusive platforms that connect communities and offer enjoyment for all.

ABOUT MUSÉE DU LOUVRE

The Louvre in Paris opened in 1793, during the French Revolution, and from the very beginning was intended to provide inspiration for contemporary art. Courbet, Picasso, Dalí and so many others came to its hallowed halls to admire the old masters, copy them, immerse themselves in masterpieces and improve and fuel their own art. As an ancient royal residence, the Louvre is inextricably linked to eight centuries of French history. As a universal museum, its collections, among the best in the world, span many millennia and miles, from the Americas to Asia. Over 38,000 artworks are grouped into eight curatorial departments, including universally admired works such as the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo. With 9.6 million guests in 2019, the Louvre is the most visited museum in the world.

ABOUT SAADIYAT CULTURAL DISTRICT

Saadiyat Cultural District on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, is devoted to culture and the arts. An ambitious cultural undertaking for the 21st century, it will be a nucleus for global culture, attracting local, regional and international guests with unique exhibitions, permanent collections, productions and performances. Its ground-breaking buildings will form a historical statement of the finest 21st century architecture; Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. These museums will complement and collaborate with local and regional arts and cultural institutions including universities and research centres.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM – ABU DHABI

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. By working in partnership with the organisations that define the Emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the Emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the Emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.