Maximilien Durand, aged 50, has been reappointed for a three-year term as head of the Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Arts at the Louvre Museum in Paris. He has been preparing the department's opening since 2022. Durand previously served as director of the Musée des Tissus in Lyon and deputy director of collections at Paris Musées. His role includes overseeing collections, acquisitions, loans, and exhibitions, as well as a national expertise mission. Separately, Sophie Jugie moved to the Musées de France service after her non-renewal as head of the Sculptures department.
This reappointment matters because it ensures continuity in the leadership of a newly established department at one of the world's most visited museums, the Louvre. Durand's expertise in Byzantine and Eastern Christian art is critical as the department prepares to open, potentially expanding the museum's scholarly and public engagement with these cultural heritage areas. The article also highlights broader personnel shifts within French national museums, reflecting institutional dynamics at the Musées de France.