Built between 1855 and 1857, the ‘Salle des Etats’ housed the major legislative sessions of the Second Empire. Napoleon III wanted a sumptuous décor with vaults painted to the glory of the Empire. After the fall of the Emperor, the room was assigned to the Louvre Museum, which transformed it to adapt it to its museum function. The windows were sealed and a skylight made in the ceiling. Initially intended for 19th century French paintings, the ‘Salle des Etats’ was later destined for 16th-century Venetian paintings. Today, it is one of the largest rooms in the Louvre and also one of the most visited. Indeed, it is home to the world’s most famous portrait, the ‘Mona Lisa’.