The new entrance is intended to take pressure off the Louvre’s main entrance, which was designed by the architect I.M. Pei in the 1980s. Credit: Andrea Mantovani for The New York Times

France Opens Competition to Expand Overcrowded Louvre

France on Friday started an architectural competition for the daunting task of expanding the Louvre in Paris, in a bid to ease overcrowding at the world’s biggest and most visited museum.

The project, which will create a new entrance and give the Mona Lisa a new exhibition space, was first announced in January by President Emmanuel Macron. He set the ambitious target of welcoming 12 million visitors per year — three million more than today — while also solving crowd-management headaches at the museum.

The architectural competition will be decided by a 21-person international jury, which will choose five finalists in October. A winner will be announced in early 2026, according to the Louvre.

Via NYT

Ken Griffin Buys Lincoln’s Handwritten Copy of 13th Amendment for $13.7 M.

Billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin has been revealed as the winner of last week’s auction at Sotheby’s for President Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten copy of the 13th Amendment, the auction house said in a statement Monday.

The document—one of only four copies still in private hands—was offered during the first part of Sotheby’s “Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana” sale last Thursday, with an estimate of $8 million to $12 million. After a spirited round of bidding, Griffin secured the winning bid of $12 million by phone. With buyer’s premium, the total came to $13.7 million, well above the $2.4 million record set for a different copy of the amendment in 2016.

Via Artnews

'The Bear' Spotlights Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio in Oak Park

The Bear is famous for spotlighting beloved Chicago landmarks, and the new fourth season is no different. In episode five, protagonist Carmy drives to the western suburb of Oak Park to visit the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio. Carmy wanders through the connected buildings, admiring such details as the octagonal, double-height drafting room; the barrel-vaulted second floor playroom; patterned windows and skylights of Wright’s own design; and some signature high-backed chairs in the dining room. Interspersed throughout the shots are blueprints, historic photos of the home, and a photo of the Wright family there, which a docent shows to Carmy. (The home and studio are open for tours.) Unsurprisingly, the chef Carmy lingers in the kitchen at an antique stove.

Via WTTW