Maximilien Durand has been reappointed as head of the Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Arts at the Louvre Museum, a role that carries both internal museum responsibilities and national duties on behalf of the French state. Two decrees signed by Culture Minister Catherine Pégard formalize his renewal: one as head of the museum department, and another as head of the corresponding major heritage department, a status held by only nine of the Louvre's departments.
This article matters because it highlights the unique dual role of Louvre department directors, who serve not only as curators and managers within the museum but also as state-appointed experts advising the broader French museum network. They participate in national commissions, review export certificates, and guide acquisitions and restorations for museums across France. The reappointment also comes amid a transition in leadership, with former director Laurence des Cars having sought to end automatic renewals, and new director Christophe Leribault yet to clarify his position on the matter.