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Sylvain Amic, President of the Musée d'Orsay and Orangerie, Dies at 58

Tributes cast him as a reformer expanding access to national art.

Overview

  • Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced his sudden death on Sunday, confirming the passing of the Orsay–Orangerie chief who took office in April 2024.
  • Authorities have not released a cause of death; a report citing a local source described a SAMU call near Bagnols-sur-Cèze and characterized it as a natural death, a detail not officially confirmed.
  • President Emmanuel Macron called the loss a shock and praised Amic’s mission to open major works to broader audiences, while Dati lauded his creative, public-minded leadership.
  • Amic’s career spanned teaching, conservation and museum leadership, including directing Rouen’s metropolitan museums, advising the Culture Ministry and launching participatory initiatives such as La chambre des visiteurs.
  • His agenda at Orsay included expanding regional loans, youth programming, research on spoliated goods and fundraising for modernization, leaving a leadership gap as major projects continue.