The unexpected departure of Sophie Jugie, director of the Louvre's Department of Sculptures, has sent shockwaves through the museum community and intensified criticism of the institution's leadership under President-Director Laurence des Cars. Jugie, who had led the department since 2014 after serving as director of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, was widely respected by her teams and peers for her scientific expertise and human qualities. Her removal comes despite expectations that she would remain in the position until her retirement in less than two years, raising serious questions about the museum's internal governance and the controversial 'Nouvelle Renaissance' project that has sparked staff strikes.
Staff members describe Jugie as an exemplary director who was both attentive and outspoken, qualities that apparently made her incompatible with des Cars' management style. Multiple sources within the Louvre, speaking anonymously due to the tense climate, confirmed that Jugie's programmatic initiatives were repeatedly dismissed in an authoritarian manner by museum leadership despite her absolute integrity and commitment to public service. Her popularity among colleagues stands in stark contrast to the growing dissatisfaction with des Cars, whose position has become increasingly precarious amid mounting criticism of her governance. The announcement of Jugie's departure left the sculpture department in consternation, with many viewing it as a political maneuver rather than a professional decision.
The controversy extends beyond personnel matters to the Louvre's institutional competence, as evidenced by errors in the job posting for Jugie's successor. The announcement, written hastily and poorly proofread, contained typographical errors and even included irrelevant sections from a posting for a different department. The introduction frames the change as being 'in coherence with the Nouvelle Renaissance project,' an initiative that remains unstudied, unfunded, and contested by museum staff. The posting incorrectly states that the new director should have expertise in graphic arts rather than sculpture, demonstrating what critics call legendary incompetence extending even to basic human resources functions at one of the world's most prestigious museums.
The 'Nouvelle Renaissance' project has become a flashpoint for broader discontent with des Cars' leadership, with staff currently on strike in opposition to the initiative. Nearly all department directors have been appointed by des Cars since her arrival, and Jugie's removal eliminates one of the last independent voices in senior management. The job description emphasizes restructuring the visitor experience to create a more transversal reading of collections across different national schools, suggesting significant curatorial changes ahead. However, the botched posting undermines confidence in the museum's ability to execute such ambitious reforms, with critics pointing to a pattern of rushed decisions and poor communication.
The French Ministry of Culture faces increasing pressure to address the Louvre's governance crisis, with many questioning how long des Cars' disastrous management can continue. The situation has drawn attention from national oversight bodies, including the National Assembly's investigative commission, which begins its work on January 8 and may provide additional arguments for decisive action. Des Cars will be required to testify under oath, potentially making it more difficult to distort facts about the museum's operations. The commission's findings could prove crucial in determining whether the 'Nouvelle Renaissance' project proceeds or becomes a catalyst for broader leadership changes at the institution.
Sophie Jugie declined to comment on her departure, while the Louvre's communication department responded only with an automatic away message, continuing a pattern of minimal engagement with press inquiries. The museum's silence contrasts sharply with the vocal criticism emerging from within its walls, where staff morale has deteriorated significantly. As the Louvre prepares to appoint a new sculpture department director, the art world watches closely to see whether the institution can recover from this latest controversy or if it signals deeper systemic problems in French museum administration. The outcome will likely influence how other national museums handle leadership transitions and staff relations in an era of increasing public scrutiny and institutional accountability.
