Prestigious French cultural recognition awarded to Wolfson GBF

Frédérique Duyrat (Wolfson GBF, Director of Collections and Keeper of the Heberden Coin Room at the Ashmolean Museum, directrice d’études cumulante at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris) has been awarded the grade of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres on 11th November 2024. The insignia was presented to her by Isabelle le Masne de Chermont, honorary keeper of the Department of Manuscripts at the French National Library.

The French Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) is a prestigious recognition awarded by the French Minister of Culture to individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the promotion of these fields in France and worldwide. Established on May 2, 1957, this order is one of the four ministerial orders maintained after the creation of the National Order of Merit in 1963.

Frédérique Duyrat served as director of the Department of Coins, Medals and Antiques (the former Cabinet des Médailles) at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) for over a decade. The Cabinet des Médailles is the former collection of antiquities, ancient and modern jewellery, coins and medals of the kings of France. It has been hosted by the Royal then National Library since the 17th century. During that period, Frédérique led her department through the renovation of the Richelieu site of the BnF, which included moving entire collections and staff. She played a central role in the merger of the Musée du Cabinet des Médailles with a new gallery, resulting in the unified Musée de la BnF. She also worked on the improvement of internal security and played an active role in the efforts made by the Library to welcome wider audiences. She revived a series of public lectures on archaeology and supported the development of exhibitions and publications for the general public. She also maintained strong links between the museum and academic research.