Paris – HRH Princess Lalla Meryem has taken part, Tuesday morning in Paris, in the inauguration by President François Hollande of the department of Islamic Arts at the Louvre museum.
The department was opened thanks to the donations of several personalities in France and the Arab-Islamic world, including HM King Mohammed VI.
Princess Lallay Meryem, who was welcomed by the French head of state, assisted to the inaugural speech of president Hollande, who hailed the “generosity” and “high knowledge” of the donors, including HM King Mohammed VI, which allowed for the opening of the wing.
HRH, alongside president HOllande and other personalities, then visited the new space dedicated to the Islamic arts, and was given explanations by the director of the department, Sophie Makariou, on the projects and the exhibited items.
Princess Lalla Meryem then took part at the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, before signing the guest book.
Several personalities took part in this event, including French culture minister, Aurélie Filipetti, prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saoud, chairman of the foundation éponyme, Kuwait’s prime minister Sheikh Jaber Moubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and President of Azerbaidjan, Ilham Aliyev, as well as representatives of other donors.
The creation of this department, which hosts a rich collection of Islamic artwork, was decided by president Jacques Chirac in 2003, while his successor laid its foundations in 2008.
The Louvre exhibits a collection of about 18,500 artwork pieces worthy of a great civilisation with the aim of giving a glimps on the artistic creation at the time when Islam stretched from Spain to India during twelve centuries (7th to 19th C.).
