Christophe Leribault: this is who is the new director of the Louvre

The direction of the Louvre Museum, following the resignation of former director Laurence des Cars, will be entrusted to Christophe Leribault, former president of the Palace of Versailles and at the helm of the Musée d’Orsay until 2024.

A general conservator of heritage with a doctorate in art history, a specialist in the 18th century, a former resident at the Villa Medici and a member of the Institut de France, Leribault began his professional career in 1989 at the Musée Carnavalet, where he served as curator for paintings and drawings. In 2006 he landed at the Louvre Museum as deputy director of the Department of Prints and Drawings, taking over in parallel as director of the Eugène Delacroix National Museum. In 2012, he was appointed director of the Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris, before taking over as director of the Musée d’Orsay and Orangerie - Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 2021.

As of February 2024, he presided over the Public Authority of the Palace, Museum and National Heritage of Versailles. A scholar of internationally recognized authority, he has dedicated himself to the enhancement and development of this extraordinary complex, respecting the legacy of Louis XIV and with the intention of also highlighting other phases of the Palace’s history. The programs of 2025, dedicated to the theme “The Republic at Versailles,” and 2026, focusing on the Revolution and the Enlightenment at Versailles, have enabled the French public and foreign visitors to rediscover lesser-known chapters of the site’s history, in dialogue with issues of the present.

It also continued to organize contemporary art exhibitions and introduced new ways for the public to visit, such as virtual reality exhibitions, personalized mediation paths based on artificial intelligence, and augmented reality experiences. In parallel, it has managed issues related to heritage conservation and protection, while also responding to the needs of a steadily growing attendance.

Among the most notable initiatives, it has initiated the project to modernize and secure the central part of the Reggia, provided for in the general investment plan and supported by the French government. These interventions will enhance fire prevention and protection of the buildings and collections. Finally, a number of interventions have been promoted aimed at the restoration and enhancement of the historic gardens of Versailles, as well as the preservation and transmission of craft skills, such as those of gardeners and master fountain designers, which ensure their preservation over time.

Christophe Leribault: this is who is the new director of the Louvre

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