Laurence des Cars
French art historian (born 1966)
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Key Takeaways
- Laurence des Cars (born Laurence Élisabeth de Pérusse des Cars on 13 June 1966) is a French museum curator and art historian.
- Early life and education Des Cars was born in Antony in the southern suburbs of Paris.
- She studied art history at Paris-Sorbonne University and the École du Louvre.
- She is a specialist on the art of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
- Des Cars was appointed scientific director of the Agence France-Muséums in July 2007, the agency in charge of the development of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Laurence des Cars (born Laurence Élisabeth de Pérusse des Cars on 13 June 1966) is a French museum curator and art historian. Between September 2021 and February 2026, she served as director of the Louvre Museum, having previously headed the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie, all located in Paris, France.
Early life and education
Des Cars was born in Antony in the southern suburbs of Paris. 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). She studied art history at Paris-Sorbonne University and the École du Louvre.
Career
Upon graduating, Des Cars joined the Institut national du patrimoine and took her first position as curator at the Musée d'Orsay in 1994. She is a specialist on the art of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. She is the author of numerous illustrated essays, including the book Les Préraphaélites : Un modernisme à l'anglaise on the Pre-Raphaelites for the Découvertes Gallimard collection.
Des Cars was appointed scientific director of the Agence France-Muséums in July 2007, the agency in charge of the development of the Louvre 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. On 27 February 2017, she was officially appointed director of the Musée d'Orsay by President François Hollande.
Des Cars was appointed as director of the Louvre Museum on 1 September 2021, making her the first woman to hold the position in the establishment's 228-year history.
On 24 February 2026 it was announced that president Macron accepted her resignation as director of the Louvre.
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