The Louvre installed bars on the window through which thieves broke into the Galerie d’Apollon in October, stealing bejeweled objects that remain largely unrecovered. The window was secured on December 23, two days before Christmas, fulfilling a promise made by Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who had sought to resign after the heist but was denied. The museum also plans to add 100 security cameras and discuss securing other windows.
This incident matters because it exposed the physical vulnerability of even the world’s most famous museums, triggering public and political outrage. The theft and the museum’s response have sparked broader conversations about cultural trauma and institutional accountability, as highlighted by art historian Bénédicte Savoy’s controversial remarks comparing the heist to a “rape.” The Louvre’s security upgrades represent a concrete effort to restore public trust.