Snapchat and the Louvre: Augmented Reality Brings Masterpieces to Life
The Musée du Louvre in Paris is once again partnering with Snapchat to offer visitors an immersive experience through augmented reality (AR). Launched on February 18, 2026, “The Incredible Unknowns of the Louvre” builds upon a successful pilot program in 2023, expanding the AR experience to six novel masterpieces.
A New Way to Explore Iconic Works
This collaboration allows museum-goers to use their smartphones to unlock hidden details, visualize lost colors and forms, and gain a deeper understanding of the artistic techniques employed in these iconic works. The experience is activated by scanning a QR code displayed on the artwork’s label.
Featured Masterpieces
The AR experience focuses on the following six masterpieces:
- The Code of Hammurabi: Visitors can decode the ancient legal text, gaining insight into the principle of “an eye for an eye.” Louvre
- The Bust of Akhenaten: AR restores the sculpture to its original colors, which have faded over time. Snapchat Newsroom
- Portrait of Anne of Cleves: The AR experience reveals hidden messages within Hans Holbein the Younger’s Renaissance masterpiece. Snapchat Newsroom
- The Kore of Samos: Visitors can see the marble statue as it originally appeared, vividly painted. Snapchat Newsroom
- The Four Captives: Originally part of a monument to Louis XIV, the AR experience allows viewers to witness the statue in its original golden form, understanding its historical context and eventual dismantling during the French Revolution. Snapchat Newsroom, Louvre, Artprice, AOL
- Oval ‘rusticware’ dish by Bernard Palissy: The AR experience highlights the inventive nature of this 16th-century ceramicist’s work. Louvre
A Collaboration Between Art and Technology
The project is a result of close collaboration between the AR Studio of Snapchat and curators at the Musée du Louvre, utilizing archival records and the latest academic research. The experience is available for free to all visitors.