We arrive to find the money and do things

From the top of his ninety-six metre, Henri Loyrette is a happy man. Especially since he took the head of the largest museum in the world, in 2001. The route of this specialist of the 19th century end knowledgeable Degas, to which he devoted a biography takes place in the accelerated. Director of the Musée d'Orsay at forty-two years, between the Academy of fine arts at forty-five, and became President and CEO of the public establishment of the Museum of the Louvre in quarante-huit: in a world where seniority is the catalyst for the careers, Henri Loyrette is figure of UFO... And yet, nothing does the road to this route. He could follow in the footsteps of his father, famous commercial, co-founder of the firm of Gide, Loyrette, Nouel, lawyer but it deters him: "He told us that any career was good to take, except those having some connection with the law."

His taste for art, Henri Loyrette think him having inherited from his grandparents maternal, loving painting. "Everything I do today has a deep connection with my childhood," he acknowledges. From his earliest years, it was discovered the collections of the Louvre, located just in front of his home. "My mother was familiar with this place, she was Egyptologist and it is has led us, my brothers and sister and I.". It was a natural attendance... "Henri Loyrette became curator of Museum without having really intended. "I spent conservative contest as I would have spent the post competition, because it had to be to do something." I didn't know any of this profession. "But, winner at the age of twenty-one, he is is"never repented of this choice. "

Recognizing that the collections of the Louvre painfully in the absence of major Velasquez, Henri Loyrette noted that the financial strength of the Museum is improved. "The situation has changed dramatically." We arrive to find the money and do things. I have known a time where museums did more to buy anything. When I was Director of the Musée d'Orsay, the French Heritage regularly left for abroad and I was, powerless and sad, at the start of great masterpieces. Now, under new laws, new fiscal devices, we found a certain ease on acquisitions. The main problem of the Museum of the Louvre today is not to acquire. We have enough levers to well. "He refused to be compared to a business leader:"the word inappropriate me, speaking of the Louvre or museums." It is a world that is very different from the company, because the commercial profit that determines the life of the company is totally foreign to the world of museums. "However, he learned to frequent patterns through sponsorship. "In most patterns, sponsorship has become a real business project". "This is not intended for an elite that goes to goberger small ovens at receptions, but it truly is a way to involve the entire company to a project," analyset - it.

It is always also impassioned by art and the Museum he directs. What he pleases in his profession "All", replies without hesitation. The weekend, he surveyed again and again the exhibition halls: "each time, among the 35,000 objects exposed, I discover something new." And there is always a case of wonder. "Professionally, Henri Loyrette relishing every moment of his day:" I absolutely do not want it disconnects me, I want to last as long as possible. " "The future, he does there not really thinks:" what to do after the Louvre. " All seem a little less well... "The only thing he regrets is not having time to devote to research. "There is life after the Louvre, it would be rather in research, in patience and writing."

Find the "selected comments" already appeared on and the entirety of the interview to 12 and 16 hours on BFM in "Saga of power" of Hedwige Chevrillon.