Laurence des Cars


Laurence des Cars 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.

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 and granddaughter of the novelist Guy des Cars. She studied art history at Paris-Sorbonne University and 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 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 to assume the role of Director of the Louvre Museum from 1 September 2021, making her the first woman to hold the position in the establishment's 228-year history.

2025 Musée du Louvre jewellery theft

Under her direction, on the morning of 19 October 2025, the Musée du Louvre announced that it would be closed for the day "for exceptional reasons". According to the Ministry of Culture and media reports, the theft occurred at the Galerie d’Apollon, a gallery where jewellery from the French Crown Jewels collection — including nine items said to have belonged to Napoleon and the Empress, such as a necklace, tiara and brooch — were on display. The incident raised significant concerns regarding the security of national patrimony and cultural heritage, and an investigation was launched.
During a Senate hearing she confirmed that she had offered her resignation but it was declined, with an official telling the media that "It would be counter-productive to cut off a head today, if it's not the right one".

Honours

Des Cars is a chevalier of the Legion of Honour and National Order of Merit, officer of Arts and letters. On 1 December 2022, she was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honour of President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.

Publications

Les Préraphaélites : Un modernisme à l'anglaise, collection « Découvertes Gallimard », série Arts. Éditions Gallimard, 1999

Collective work

  • AA.VV., Manet, inventeur du Moderne, « Livres d'Art ». Éditions Gallimard, 2011
  • * Manet: The Man Who Invented Modernity, Gallimard, 2011
  • AA.VV., Apollinaire : Le regard du poète, « Livres d'Art ». Éditions Gallimard, 2016

Exhibitions

As a teacher at École du Louvre, she organised many exhibitions for various museums, including: