Éric de Chassey's Transformative Leadership at Villa Medici

Éric de Chassey, an art historian, critic, professor at Université François Rabelais de Tours, and curator, was appointed director of the French Academy in Rome in 2009, succeeding Frédéric Mitterrand. Over three years, he revitalized the historic institution through a rich program of exhibitions and conferences. Known for his complex personality—aloof yet passionate—he championed lesser-known artists, supported young critics, and advocated for cross-disciplinary art, exemplified by a punk exhibition at the Villa. His scholarly method, inspired by Meyer Shapiro, emphasizes contextualizing visual objects within artistic, social, and epistemic frameworks. He published notable works like 'La Violence décorative' (1998) and 'Platitudes' (2006). At Villa Medici, he modernized financial and administrative operations, broke feudal habits, and refocused the institution on its residents and their integration with Rome and European networks. He warns against culture's drift toward pure event or hyper-heritage, advocating for the Villa as a model linking young creation with historical art.