PATRONAGE

On 11 March 2022, the École du Louvre inaugurated the new facilities created as part of an ambitious architectural project entitled “École du Louvre 2021-2022” in the presence of Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, the French Minister of Culture, and H.R.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover. Claire Barbillon, the Director of the École du Louvre, was the driving force behind the project, which was made possible by the extraordinarily generous patronage of Majid Boustany, the founder and President of the Francis Bacon MB Art Foundation.

The vast programme of works encompassed redevelopment and refurbishment of the library including its documentation, IT services and cafeteria, and the creation of a research centre.

Majid Boustany’s support for the initiative is the most substantial charitable donation ever received by an educational establishment under the aegis of the French Ministry of Culture.

He added the finishing touch to the project by giving the École du Louvre the first artworks to be displayed in its study and research facilities: two sculptures by the British artist Antony Gormley for the library; an easel that belonged to Francis Bacon to stand in the library entrance hall; and an artwork by François Morellet and a sculpture by César for display in the Jaujard Hall. He also endowed the new library with an extensive collection of books on Francis Bacon, making it one of France’s largest repositories of publications about the painter.