The Louvre's Sculptures Department

Originally, sculptures formed part of the Antiquities Department, which limited them mostly to ancient pieces and a few works by Michelangelo. Modern sculpture only joined the Louvre in 1824, with the opening of a dedicated museum in the Angoulême Gallery, on the west side of the Cour Carrée.

Since 1871, sculpture has had its own department, brought further to life by the transfer of Renaissance works and pieces from Versailles, where a historical museum project had been initiated.
 

Among the works to spot is the bronze Satan by Jean-Jacques Feuchère, dated 1833, which captures Satan in a pensive, melancholic stance — far from the usual iconography. The works of Michelangelo, including his Dying Slaves, also stand among the highlights of this department, alongside masterful French sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Where to find it: Richelieu wing (mezzanine and 1st floor) for French sculpture; Denon wing (mezzanine and 1st floor) for foreign works.
Tactile Gallery: Denon wing, mezzanine.
Extime Travel tip: include the Marly and Puget courtyards in your route — they're a quieter, more contemplative experience after the busier Paintings galleries.