France’s premier museum of 19th-century art, the Musee d’Orsay is getting a new entry on its name label, adding the late French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing.
Ironically, the decision to save the historic former railway station on the Seine that became the museum’s home, was made by Pres. Georges Pompidou, but his name is already attached to the Centre Pompidou, which houses a leading museum of 20th-century art. Most of the rebuilding and renovation of the Musee d’Orsay was under Giscard
The new official title is “Les Musees D’Orsay et de l’Orangerie Valery Giscard d’Estaing.” The museum also administers the Orangerie, a nearby museum housing among other exhibits the largest collection of Monet’s paintings of water lilies.
Other presidents have their names on major institutions as well: Mitterand on the National Library and Chirac recently added to the Musee du Quai Branly.
