Photo: École du Louvre
The Department of Sculptures at the Louvre had, since 2014, been headed by Sophie Jugie, previously Director of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon. Her abilities are recognised by everyone, notably by her teams, and there was no doubt that she would be renewed in her position until her retirement, which was scheduled for less than two years from now. But Laurence des Cars, the President-Director of the Louvre, whom everyone agrees no longer has any place at the head of this museum, is not only incapable of running this public institution. She cannot tolerate being contradicted, even occasionally. It is for this reason that she chose, while she herself is sitting on an ejection seat, to part ways with someone who was certainly one of the museum’s very best department directors. This news was announced to the Department of Sculptures yesterday, and since then consternation has reigned there, as it has more generally throughout the Louvre. We spoke with several people who confirmed to us how much, unlike Laurence des Cars, Sophie Jugie was appreciated for her great abilities, both scholarly and human. For years, moreover, we have highlighted the good work carried out by her department. Those who spoke to us obviously do not wish to be named, which speaks volumes about the atmosphere that prevails in this museum. Here is one testimony, among others: “She is an exemplary director in terms of human qualities, very attentive, and she does not mince her words at all”. This last point is obviously intolerable for Laurence des Cars. “Some of Sophie Jugie’s museographic programmes were set aside in a very authoritarian manner by Laurence des Cars. Yet she has public service in her bones, and is of absolute integrity and moral probity. This news is very shocking”. Another person at the Louvre confided to us that: “Sophie is very much appreciated by her teams and by everyone except Laurence des Cars [1]”.
The Louvre is wasting no time, since the position has already been advertised. And the tone is set from the introduction: “In coherence with the Nouvelle Renaissance project”. A project that has not been studied, not financed, and is useless, against which Louvre staff are currently on strike, is thus indeed one of the reasons for this change in leadership. Almost all department directors have been appointed by Laurence des Cars. There remained the one for Drawings [2], and that of Sculptures. That is now done [3]..
The new director will notably be tasked with “refonding the route aiming propose a more transversal reading of the collections by associating the different national schools”. “Aiming propose”, sic: this announcement, clearly written in haste, was so poorly proofread that it contains typos, but above all fragments from the advertisement seeking a new Director of Drawings. Thus the desired profile will not need to know sculpture, but will have to possess a “Recognised expertise in the field of graphic arts, notably for the collections held by the Louvre Museum” (sic again), as well as a “Knowledge of the international environment of major graphic arts collections” (sic yet again). The incompetence of the Louvre, in just about all areas, even human resources, is becoming legendary [4].
The inaction of the Ministry of Culture is becoming absolutely unbearable. How much longer will the disastrous governance of Laurence des Cars continue? When will it finally be understood that the “Nouvelle Renaissance” project is a catastrophe for this museum? Let us hope that the commission of inquiry of the French National Assembly, which will begin its work on 8 January next, will provide additional arguments in support of the only decision that must be taken swiftly: the departure of Laurence des Cars. As we have written, she will have to take an oath, which should make it more difficult for her to distort the facts.