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7 stand trial over cyber death threats against Paris Olympics artistic director
Read full article: 7 stand trial over cyber death threats against Paris Olympics artistic directorThe trial of seven people charged in connection with alleged cyberbullying targeting the artistic director of last summer’s Paris Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies has started in a Paris court.
EU court: Tourists may get refunds over COVID measures
Read full article: EU court: Tourists may get refunds over COVID measuresThe European Union's highest court says travelers whose package tours were ruined by the imposition of restrictions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic may be entitled to at least a partial refund.
Man in wig throws cake at glass protecting Mona Lisa
Read full article: Man in wig throws cake at glass protecting Mona LisaA man seemingly disguised as an old woman in a wheelchair threw a piece of cake at the glass protecting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum and shouted at people to “Think of the Earth.”.
New Exhibit at The MOSH: Da Vinci Machines & Robots
Read full article: New Exhibit at The MOSH: Da Vinci Machines & RobotsOne of the greatest creative minds in history is having his awe-inspiring inventions on display at the MOSH. The Da Vinci Exhibit currently on display showcases over 60 recreations from the famous painter, inventor, and writer Leonardo Da Vinci.
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With no crowds, Louvre gets rare chance to refurbish
Read full article: With no crowds, Louvre gets rare chance to refurbishLeonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa hangs on the wall in a deserted Louvre museum, in Paris, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The 518-year-old Mona Lisa will have seen many things in her life on display, but rarely this: Almost four months with no visitors. She stares out in Paris' Louvre, across bulletproof glass into the now-silent emptiness of the shuttered Salle des Etats. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)PARIS – The 518-year-old Mona Lisa has seen many things in her life on a wall, but rarely this: Almost four months with no Louvre visitors. It’s uncertain when the Paris museum will reopen, after being closed on Oct. 30 in line with the French government’s virus containment measures.
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Leonardo's 'Last Supper' reopens to public with short wait
Read full article: Leonardo's 'Last Supper' reopens to public with short wait'Last Supper' reopened Tuesday to the public after closure due to COVID-19 lockdown measures. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)MILAN – COVID-19 restrictions have brought a novelty to art lovers: The possibility of seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” without waiting in line, and with same-day tickets possible. Access is restricted in the first week to just eight viewers every 15 minutes, going up to 12 starting next week. Ad“The dramatic COVID emergency had the effect of lowering the legendary wait time, and for the public this is a real opportunity,” Daffra said. “I feel it's an experience of new beginnings,'' said Roberto Ponti, who finally got to see the “Last Supper" after months of delay.
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"Mona Lisa" back at work, visitors limited as Louvre reopens
Read full article: "Mona Lisa" back at work, visitors limited as Louvre reopensVisitors take photos of the Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa, in Paris, Monday, July 6, 2020. The home of the world's most famous portrait, the Louvre Museum in Paris, reopened Monday after a four-month coronavirus lockdown. Paris' Louvre Museum, which houses the world's most famous portrait, reopened Monday after a four-month coronavirus lockdown and without its usual huge throngs. The bulk of the Louvre's visitors before the pandemic used to come from overseas, led by travelers from the United States. The Louvre is hoping to instead attract visitors from closer to home, including the Paris region, but is bracing for a plunge in numbers.
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No Eiffel, Mona Lisa or Versailles: Iconic sites stay closed
Read full article: No Eiffel, Mona Lisa or Versailles: Iconic sites stay closedFILE - In this Oct.23, 2019 file photo, tourists wait to see Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa, at the Louvre museum, in Paris. Iconic sites that are among some of France's biggest tourist draws won't reopen when the country lifts most of its coronavirus restrictions next week. Neither the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower nor the Versailles Palace will be reopening next week when France lifts many of its remaining coronavirus lockdown restrictions. None of France's three most iconic tourist sites will reopen when the country lifts most of its remaining coronavirus lockdown restrictions next week. About 20%-30% of the museums rooms might be closed but of course the Mona Lisa will be open," Sacristin said.

Louvre gets ready for its biggest ever Leonardo exhibition
Read full article: Louvre gets ready for its biggest ever Leonardo exhibitionThe Louvre in Paris, the world's most visited museum, is gearing up for its largest ever Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the artist's death. The curators of the Louvre exhibition, Vincent Delieuvin and Louis Frank, have managed to get six Leonardo paintings on loan to add to the museum's own five, bringing the total to 11. The previous largest Leonardo exhibition, at London's National Gallery in 2011, featured nine paintings. It will be the biggest exhibition of Leonardo's paintings and probably the best collection of his drawings and scientific manuscripts." Putting so many Leonardo works together under one roof has other beneficial side effects, such as progressing the discussion on attribution.

Leonardo da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man' cleared to go to Louvre
Read full article: Leonardo da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man' cleared to go to LouvrePascal Le Segretain/Getty Images(CNN) - An Italian court has rejected a request by a culture and heritage group to block the loan of Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man," one of the world's most famous artworks, to the Louvre museum in Paris. The group launched an appeal with a court in Veneto, home region to the city of Venice and its Gallerie dell'Accademia, the institution that owns the drawing. "Vitruvian Man" is rarely displayed because light exposure can damage the 500-year-old paper sketch. The last time it was visible to the public was last summer, when a Leonardo show centered around it was launched at Gallerie dell'Accademia. Dario Franceschini, Italian Minister for Cultural Affairs, welcomed the decision in a tweet, stating: "Now a great cultural operation can start between Italy and France on the two exhibitions about Leonardo in France and Raphael in Rome."

MIT engineers test Leonardo da Vinci's bridge design
Read full article: MIT engineers test Leonardo da Vinci's bridge designBut what would it have been like if da Vinci's design had been constructed? But the researchers wanted to know if da Vinci's design would have been viable at the time of its creation. But it highlights the brilliance of da Vinci's design. "What we can learn from Leonardo da Vinci's design is that the form of a structure is very important for its stability," Bast said. Ochsendorf said the team wanted to know if da Vinci's idea "could actually have stood up."

Italian court blocks loan of 'Vitruvian Man' to Louvre
Read full article: Italian court blocks loan of 'Vitruvian Man' to LouvreThierry Chesnot/Getty Images(CNN) - An Italian court has blocked the loan of a famed sketch by Leonardo da Vinci to the Louvre museum in Paris, ahead of a highly anticipated exhibition of the artist's greatest works. Culture and heritage group Italia Nostra argued that Leonardo's "Vitruvian Man" sketch was too fragile to be transported to the Louvre, where it was expected to be included in an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of the artist's death. Italia Nostra launched an appeal with a regional court to halt the sketch's loan, which was upheld by a court ruling on Tuesday. Italia Nostra argued that the work was too fragile to be transported, and could be damaged if displayed in the Louvre. "Vitruvian Man" can only be displayed for short periods to limit environmental damage.

Ownership of Isleworth Mona Lisa' debated
Read full article: Ownership of Isleworth Mona Lisa' debatedWith her straight dark hair and beguiling smile, the so-called "Isleworth Mona Lisa" bears an uncanny resemblance to her namesake in the Louvre. The Mona Lisa Foundation has confirmed to CNN that it will be participating in the court hearing. When Meyer herself died in 2008, the "Isleworth Mona Lisa" was acquired by the international consortium that currently owns it -- and the Mona Lisa Foundation was established that same year to research its origins. The Mona Lisa Foundation cites a range of research, some of which dates back to the time of Blaker and Eyre. "You see a lot of 'Mona Lisa' variants ... and this one I would classify in the middle of the range.