Collectors of works of art and donations to museums at the end of the 19thcentury: the Louvre museum as an example

In Europe, the second half of the nineteenth century was the golden age of collecting and museum founding. Art and history quickly became aspects of p ower and national grandeur. Art collectors had to fulfill these aspirations and were expected to become museum patrons, contributing to the enrichment of their countries' artistic heritage. Thus, some collections became publi c property. The case of the Louvre museum is a very significant one. It is not only the main museum of the French capital, but also the most important museum of the country, since in the French context, Paris embodies the who le nation. Giving is therefore considered as a patriotic act which can pres erve the position of the City of Lights as the international capital of art s and artists. But this optimistic vision must be tempered. Indeed, the Lou vre museum archives give us precious information to study the reasons of gi ving and understand its real meaning. Some collectors build collections for posterity and combine their love of art with the sense of a certain social status.