Guy Cogeval, who served as director of Paris's prestigious Musée d'Orsay from 2008 to 2017, passed away on November 13 at the age of 70 following a prolonged illness. His death was announced by French newspaper Le Monde on November 17, marking the end of a distinguished career that left an indelible mark on the international art museum world.
Cogeval was widely recognized as both an iconoclastic and occasionally controversial figure in museum circles, earning respect as a passionate scholar of 19th-century art. His particular area of expertise was the Nabis, a influential group of French Post-Impressionist painters who were active during the late 1800s and made significant contributions to the evolution of modern art.
Born in Paris in 1955, Cogeval pursued a rigorous academic path that would prepare him for his future role as a museum leader. He graduated from the prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies in 1977, then continued his education by earning a master's degree in art history in 1982. His commitment to museum work was formalized in 1985 when he successfully passed France's highly competitive entrance examination for curatorial training.
Cogeval's professional journey began modestly as an intern in the film department at the Musée d'Orsay, the very institution he would later lead. He subsequently gained valuable experience working as an assistant curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, followed by a position as deputy director of cultural affairs at the world-renowned Louvre Museum. These early roles provided him with comprehensive understanding of museum operations and cultural programming.
From 1992 to 1998, Cogeval served as director of the National Museum of French Monuments in Paris, where he demonstrated his curatorial vision by organizing the acclaimed exhibition "Italian Renaissance Architecture, from Brunelleschi to Michelangelo" in 1994. The success of this exhibition was evident in its international tour, which brought the show to prestigious venues including the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and the Altes Museum in Berlin.
In 1998, Cogeval accepted the position of director general at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, marking his first major international appointment. During his tenure in Canada, he organized several groundbreaking exhibitions that later traveled to Paris, showcasing his ability to create culturally significant shows. Notable exhibitions included "Hitchcock and Art" in 2000, "Erotic Picasso" in 2001, and the highly praised "Édouard Vuillard, Master of Post-Impressionism" in 2003.
When Cogeval assumed leadership of the Musée d'Orsay in 2008, he immediately began implementing transformative changes to the institution. As president of both the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie, he successfully merged the two museums into a single establishment, creating operational efficiencies and enhanced visitor experiences. His ambitious renovation project involved remodeling approximately 80 percent of the Orsay's gallery spaces and completely rehanging most of the museum's extensive collection.
Throughout his tenure at the Orsay, Cogeval organized numerous important traveling exhibitions featuring Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, leveraging the museum's reputation for housing the world's largest collection of art from these movements. His programming extended beyond traditional boundaries with more eclectic shows, often developed in collaboration with guest curators, including innovative exhibitions exploring themes such as crime and punishment, the male nude in art, and the intersection of Impressionism and fashion.
Despite receiving high praise for his curatorial expertise and effective fiscal management of the institution, Cogeval faced increasing criticism regarding his management style during his later years as director. These concerns ultimately led to his replacement in 2017, just one year into his third term, by Laurence des Cars, who has since moved on to become director of the Musée du Louvre.
Following his departure from the Orsay, Cogeval dedicated his remaining years to continuing his scholarly research into the Nabis movement and Symbolism, maintaining his lifelong passion for understanding and interpreting 19th-century artistic developments. His contributions to art history and museum leadership continue to influence the field and inspire future generations of curators and art historians.
