A New Roubiliac Enters the Louvre

Un nouveau Roubiliac entre au Louvre

The Musée du Louvre has acquired a bronze bust of the poet Alexander Pope by the 18th-century sculptor Louis François Roubiliac. The work was purchased via private treaty through Sotheby’s after failing to find a buyer during the Manny Davidson collection sale, despite an estimate of €60,000 to €80,000. This acquisition strengthens the museum’s modest but significant collection of non-French European sculpture and is expected to go on public display in the coming weeks.

Why is the French government spending millions on art no one sees?

The French government agency Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP), established in 1982 to support living artists and collect their work, has come under scrutiny following two opposing government reports. A July white paper by Martin Bethenod recommended refocusing CNAP's acquisitions on France-based artists and galleries, while a November report from the Cour des Comptes by Julien Aubert found the agency financially fragile and redundant, noting that 24,472 works—one quarter of its collection—have never been exhibited. Aubert recommended closing the CNAP by 2030, sparking backlash from over 1,000 art professionals who signed an open letter criticizing the ideological attack on public cultural service.

Louvre closes gallery ‘until further notice’ citing structural problems

The Musée du Louvre in Paris has closed its Campana Gallery, a suite of nine rooms dedicated to ancient Greek ceramics, after a technical report revealed structural weaknesses in the Sully Wing's supporting beams. The closure is indefinite, and 65 staff members will be relocated, though the artworks will remain in place. The announcement comes amid the Louvre's ambitious New Renaissance renovation project, which includes a new entrance under the Perrault Colonnade by 2031.

Louvre closes gallery ‘until further notice’ citing structural problems

The Musée du Louvre in Paris has closed its Campana Gallery, which houses nine rooms of ancient Greek ceramics, after a technical report revealed structural weaknesses in beams supporting the second floor of the Sully Wing. The gallery will remain closed 'until further notice' as a precaution, and 65 staff members will be relocated, though the artworks will not be moved. The closure comes amid the Louvre's ambitious New Renaissance renovation project, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron, which includes a new visitor entrance under the Perrault Colonnade by 2031 and is now valued at €1.15bn.