- Ainslie Harvey arrived at the Louvre at 8:20am to capture the moment
A tourist has revealed the best way to get the perfect shot for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa without being overshadowed by the throng of visitors.
Some 7.5 million visitors set foot in the Louvre every year – that’s 30,000 people a day – meaning even catching a glimpse of 16th-century painting can be extremely difficult.
Leanardo Da Vinci’s painting is among the most popular in the world because it showcases Da Vinci’s talent for natural realism coupled with the piece’s ability to emotionally engage viewers
History buff Ainslie Harvey has revealed how to skip the crowds and get that Instagram moment with the Mona Lisa.
Ainslie Harvey, (pictured), also known on TikTok as @hot.history, introduces viewers to the ultimate guide to getting a perfect shot with the historic painting
Monstrous crowds of people trying to glimpse Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Paris, France
Ms Harvey stated that the most important step was reserving the first time of day to visit the iconic art museum, which is 9am, either Monday or Thursday.
She shared, “Get up and take a walk through the Tuileries Garden and you will line up at the entrance to the pyramid around 8:30am. I got there at 8:20 am and was first in line.’
The history buff then revealed, once you’re inside, you must descend the escalators, which take you to level zero, and make your way to the towering Greek sculpture of the goddess Niké – Winged Victory.
The history buff revealed, “It’s so emotional at the top of the stairs, take your time, don’t rush through this, but you can always come back.”
From here, turn right, through the Square Lounge all the way to the Grand Gallery, said Ms. Harvey.
A quarter of the way down the Grand Gallery to your right is the Mona Lisa room and there you will have the opportunity to take a picture with Da Vinci’s masterful brushstrokes.
The history expert said, ‘Now I wasn’t the only one who took this picture. There were about ten people.’
But despite that, she described it as one of the “most enjoyable museum interactions” she’s ever had.
“Everyone was very nice, very patient, helping other people with their photos and all in all there was very little stress,” she told her followers.
But the Louvre has more to offer than the soft, sculptural face and rigid gaze of the Mona Lisa.
Opposite the Mona Lisa, standing upright in a ‘pozzetto’ armchair, is Paolo Veronese’s painting, The Marriage at Cana, which is one of Mrs. Harvey’s favourites.
The larger-than-life painting, decorated with a profusion of people in multicolored clothing, depicts the biblical story of the Wedding at Cana.
During the Napoleonic era, it was picked up by the dynamite dictator and cut in half because it was too big to transport.
The Mona Lisa is not the only thing the Louvre has to offer. The history influencer also pointed out other historical paintings worth seeing. One of her favorites is ‘The Wedding Feast at Cana’ by Paolo Veronese
The history buff shared, “You can actually see the line when you go there.”
But her tips and tricks for the famous art museum didn’t start and end with the Mona Lisa.
She also advised visitors to “do themselves and her a favor” by visiting both the Grand Gallery and the Red Chambers while at the Louvre.
Even if you’re short on time, you can “easily” visit the two and the Mona Lisa in under two hours, according to Ms Harvey – and it’s well worth it.