Following the resignation of Laurence des Cars on February 24, a new director has been appointed at the Louvre Museum the very next day. French President Emmanuel Macron has chosen Christophe Leribault, an art historian and experienced museum director, to take charge of the Paris institution, which has been facing significant crises. Leribault, who has been leading the Palace of Versailles since 2024, is tasked with guiding the Louvre through major transitions after a major jewel heist last October.
The robbery had sparked intense criticism of des Cars due to the infrastructural and surveillance shortcomings that facilitated the theft. Leribault is now expected to implement the ambitious ‘Nouvelle Renaissance’ project, a comprehensive, multi-year plan aimed at modernizing and strengthening the museum. During a press briefing on February 25, French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon stated that Leribault would oversee crucial projects for the Louvre, focusing on security enhancements and modernization, while continuing the ‘Louvre New Renaissance’ initiative.
Leribault, aged 62, has a history of succeeding des Cars in museum leadership roles. In 2021, he replaced her as president of the Musée d’Orsay following her appointment as the Louvre’s director. His previous positions include leading the Petit Palais art museum and the Musée Delacroix in Paris. This new role marks Leribault’s return to the Louvre two decades after his tenure as the deputy director of the museum’s Department of Graphic Arts.
