The 18th century saw the flowering of the Enlightenment and the encyclopedic spirit, as well as a growing taste for the exotic. These influences, encouraged by increasing world exploration, by trade centered on northwestern Europe, by developing industrialization and mostly by the change of governance, are evident in the opening of Europe's outstanding museum, the Louvre, in Paris, in 1793.
It was a matter of public concern in France that the royal collections were inaccessible to the populace, and eventually a selection of paintings was exhibited at the Luxembourg Palace in 1750 by Louis XV. Continuing pressure, including Diderot's proposal of a national museum, led to arrangements for more of the royal collection to be displayed for the public in the Grande Galerie of the Louvre palace.
However, when the Grande Galerie was opened to the public in 1793, it was by decree of the Revolutionary government rather than royal mandate, and it was called the Central Museum of the Arts.
In this essay I will discuss the role that politics have in the museums through the case of the Louvre. I will show that displaying works of art have a meaning beside the artistically side but also a political interest to influence the people. At first, I will review briefly the history of the Louvre as a public museum, on the second section I will introduce the role of politics in the museums and on the third and final section I will show the role that the Louvre played in building the new Republican nation.