Michel Laclotte
Encyclopedia
Michel Laclotte is an art historian and museum director, specialising in 14th and 15th century French painting.
His first role was as "inspecteur des musées" of the province, then as a professor at the Ecole du Louvre
and as head conservator of the paintings department of the Louvre
from 1966. Heavily involved in the "projet Grand Louvre
", he was the first to hold the role of director (formerly known as Conservateur) of the Louvre between 1987 and 1995.
From 1972, he also championed the idea of turning Paris's gare d'Orsay
into a museum
, and became its head conservator on its opening in 1986. He took part in the creation of France's "Institut national d'histoire de l'art" between 1995 and 2000, becoming its next "vice-président scientifique".
He was also a contributor to many books on the history of painting, including
His first role was as "inspecteur des musées" of the province, then as a professor at the Ecole du Louvre
École du Louvre
The École du Louvre is an institution of higher education and French Grande École located in the Aile de Flore of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France, and is dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology and epigraphy....
and as head conservator of the paintings department of the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
from 1966. Heavily involved in the "projet Grand Louvre
Louvre Pyramid
The Louvre Pyramid is a large glass and metal pyramid, surrounded by three smaller pyramids, in the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace in Paris. The large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum...
", he was the first to hold the role of director (formerly known as Conservateur) of the Louvre between 1987 and 1995.
From 1972, he also championed the idea of turning Paris's gare d'Orsay
Gare d'Orsay
Gare d'Orsay is a former Paris railway station and hotel, built in 1900 to designs by Victor Laloux, Lucien Magne and Émile Bénard; it served as a terminus for the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans . It was the first electrified urban rail terminal in the world, opened 28 May 1900, in time for the...
into a museum
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
, and became its head conservator on its opening in 1986. He took part in the creation of France's "Institut national d'histoire de l'art" between 1995 and 2000, becoming its next "vice-président scientifique".
Publications
- Michel Laclotte, Histoires de musées : Souvenirs d'un conservateur (2003) (ISBN 2866563077)
He was also a contributor to many books on the history of painting, including
- Dictionnaire de la peinture from Éditions Larousse (ISBN 2035053900)