Guy Cogeval, the former director of Paris's Musée d'Orsay, died on November 13 at age 70 after a long illness. A specialist in 19th-century art and the Nabis, Cogeval led the Musée d'Orsay from 2008 to 2017, overseeing a major renovation of 80 percent of its galleries and merging it with the Musée de l'Orangerie. He previously directed the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of French Monuments, and curated acclaimed exhibitions including "Hitchcock and Art" and "Édouard Vuillard, Master of Post-Impressionism."
Cogeval's tenure matters because he transformed one of the world's most visited museums, home to the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, through ambitious rehangs and eclectic exhibitions that broadened the museum's appeal. However, his legacy is also marked by controversy over his management style, leading to his replacement in 2017 by Laurence des Cars, now director of the Louvre. His death closes a significant chapter in French museum leadership.