The Louvre Colonnade: an enchanted interlude

You have to see it to believe it. For the first time in at least twenty years, if not more, the Louvre colonnade (ill. 1), that masterpiece of classical architecture attributed to Claude Perrault - but in reality the result of a collaboration between Perrault, Louis Le Vau and no doubt other architects - can be seen free of dross and its moats freed of the Algecos that had been cluttering it up for ages (see article).

Several times a year, in fact, the monument is masked by multiple installations for events taking place in the Cour Carrée. And when these are not there, there’s always the lift used to enter the installations in the…