The Louvre museum in Paris is offering visitors a latest way to experience six of its lesser-known masterpieces through an augmented reality (AR) trail developed in collaboration with Snapchat. Launched on February 18, 2026, the initiative, titled “The Incredible Unknowns of the Louvre,” allows smartphone users to unlock digital layers on artworks by scanning QR codes displayed alongside each piece.
Among the featured works is “The Four Captives,” a set of bronze sculptures originally part of a monument to King Louis XIV in Place des Victoires. According to Snap Newsroom, the sculptures were spared destruction during the French Revolution, seen as symbols of those oppressed by the monarchy. The AR experience allows viewers to visualize the original monument, including the statue of Louis XIV, which was later melted down in 1792 during an insurrection, the metal repurposed for cannons. The digital reconstruction offers a glimpse of the artwork’s original context and the dramatic shift in its meaning following the revolution.
The trail also includes the Code of Hammurabi, an ancient Babylonian legal text. Through the Snapchat AR filter, visitors can decode portions of the millennia-classic code, including the principle of “an eye for an eye.” Other works featured are the Bust of Akhenaten, originally from the Karnak Temple, which regains its original colors through AR; the Portrait of Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the Younger, revealing hidden messages within the painting; and the Kore of Samos, a marble statue that once featured vivid colors now restored digitally.
The Louvre and Snap teams deliberately selected these six works to guide visitors away from the museum’s most popular attractions, such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. As reported by AOL, the aim is to encourage exploration of less-traveled areas of the museum and offer a different perspective on its vast collection. The trail spans the Richelieu, Sully, and Denon wings, encompassing thousands of years of art history.
The augmented reality experience is activated by opening the Snapchat app and scanning the QR code located on the artwork’s label. The technology layers visual animations onto the camera view, revealing details that have faded or disappeared over time. The project builds on an initial pilot program in 2023 focused on Ancient Egyptian works, demonstrating a continued commitment to integrating technology into the visitor experience. Artprice.com notes that the initiative aims to bring these “illustrious unknowns” back to life for a new generation of museum-goers.
The Louvre has not yet announced a definitive end date for “The Incredible Unknowns of the Louvre,” but the collaboration with Snapchat remains ongoing.
