The Winged Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre

A Greek statue, the Winged Victory of Samothrace testifies to the skill and refinement of the Greek sculptors of antiquity. Its outspread wings allow it to be recognized as a personification of Nike, victory, and lend the whole a striking sense of movement and momentum.

A discovery in 1863
The Winged Victory of Samothrace was discovered in 1863 on the island of Samothrace, in the Aegean Sea, by the French vice-consul Charles Champoiseau. He was exploring the sanctuary in the north of the island when he uncovered magnificent lapidary remains, including a bust and a body in good condition, along with numerous fragments.

The arrival at the Louvre
The various pieces of the statue were sent to the Louvre, where they were received in May 1864. Patiently reassembled, the work has become one of the museum's unmissable masterpieces, admired for the delicacy of its drapery and the power of its silhouette.