Laurence des Cars (born Laurence Élisabeth de Pérusse des Cars on 13 June 1966) is a French museum curator and art historian. Since September 2021, she has served as director of the Louvre Museum, having previously headed the Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie.[1][2]
Laurence des Cars | |
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Born | Laurence Élisabeth de Pérusse des Cars 13 June 1966 |
Nationality | French |
Alma mater | École du Louvre Sorbonne University |
Occupation(s) | Museum curator, art historian |
Des Cars was born in Antony, France. She is the daughter of the journalist and writer Jean des Cars and granddaughter of the novelist Guy des Cars (himself the second son of François de Pérusse des Cars, 5th Duc des Cars).[1] She studied art history at Paris-Sorbonne University and École du Louvre.
Upon graduating, Des Cars joined the Institut national du patrimoine and took her first position as curator at the Musée d'Orsay in 1994.[3]
She is a specialist on the art of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
She is the author of numerous illustrated essays, including a book on Pre-Raphaelites for the collection 'Découvertes Gallimard', Les Préraphaélites : Un modernisme à l'anglaise.
Des Cars was appointed scientific director of the Agence France-MuséumsLouvre Abu Dhabi. She was also promoted to general curator of heritage in 2011 and was appointed director of the Musée de l'Orangerie in January 2014, by the Minister of Culture, Aurélie Filippetti.[4][5][6][7] On 27 February 2017, she was officially appointed director of the Musée d'Orsay by the then French President François Hollande.[1][8]
in July 2007, French operator in charge of the development of theDes Cars was appointed to assume the role of Director of the Louvre Museum from 1 September 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the establishment's 228-year history.[2]
Des Cars is a chevalier of the Legion of Honour and National Order of Merit, officer of Arts and letters.[9] On 1 December 2022, she was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honor of President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.[10]
As a teacher at École du Louvre, she organised many exhibitions for various museums, including:
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