The house of the “Mona Lisa” is getting a brand new boss. Artwork historian Christophe Leribault, a veteran museum director, is taking up on the Louvre, shouldering the problem of getting the world’s largest museum out of disaster after the brazen heist in October of the French crown jewels.
French authorities spokeswoman Maud Bregeon introduced Wednesday that Leribault is taking up from outgoing Louvre director Laurence des Vehicles, who resigned Tuesday.
The difficulties he inherits are formidable.
The daylight theft — among the many highest-profile museum thefts in residing reminiscence — uncovered alarming safety holes on the Paris landmark.
The previous royal palace has additionally suffered a broad array of different issues which have introduced an image of a treasured nationwide establishment spiraling uncontrolled.
They embody a burst pipe close to the “Mona Lisa,” water leaks that broken priceless books, ageing buildings, workers walkouts over overcrowding, understaffing and ticket worth hikes for many non-European guests.
Strain for brand spanking new management deepened in latest weeks when authorities revealed a suspected decade-long ticket fraud operation linked to the museum that investigators say might have price the Louvre 10 million euros ($11.8 million).
Leribault brings a confirmed monitor file. He has been working one other world-renowned French landmark and vacationer attraction, the Versailles Palace, overseeing an annual finances of about 170 million euros ($200 million). The previous palace for French royalty west of Paris was the venue for Olympic equestrian sports activities when Paris hosted the summer season video games in 2024.
Leribault is also a earlier head of Paris’ Orsay Museum.
“He will be tasked with leading important projects that are crucial for the institution’s future,” Bregeon mentioned as she introduced Leribault’s appointment on the Louvre.
They embody safety and modernization upgrades and the pursuit of a sweeping overhaul plan, branded “Louvre New Renaissance,” that President Emmanuel Macron is championing.
Unveiled by Macron in January 2025, the renovation, which might take as much as a decade, goals to modernize a museum broadly seen as overstretched and bodily worn down by mass tourism.
The plan features a new entrance close to the Seine River to ease strain on I.M. Pei’s pyramid, new underground areas and a devoted room for the “Mona Lisa” with timed entry — all meant to enhance crowd circulate and cut back the day by day crush of tourists that has turn out to be an emblem of the Louvre’s success and its dysfunction.
The challenge is anticipated to price about 1.15 billion euros ($1.35 billion) in keeping with a latest report from France’s court docket of auditors. Will probably be partly funded by ticket income, state assist, donations and revenue from the Louvre department in Abu Dhabi.
Bregeon described Leribault as “very solid, trusted” and mentioned he’s anticipated to offer “vision” and “calm” to the museum.
In an announcement, the Tradition Ministry highlighted “his extensive experience at the helm of major institutions” and mentioned Leribault will prioritize strengthening the safety and security of the Louvre’s buildings, its collections and guests and workers, and “restoring a climate of trust.”
