Pierre Danès (1497–1577) was the first royal lecturer (a former title for professors at the Collège de France) in Greek, alongside Jacques Toussaint. He taught from 1530 to 1535, before being appointed the king’s ambassador to the Council of Trent from 1545 to 1562 and bishop of Lavaur in 1557. His portrait, the date and artist of which are unknown, was donated to the Collège de France in January 1736 by a member of his family. After being displayed in several locations within the institution, it is now on view in the “lecturers’ hall,” the antechamber to the large Marguerite de Navarre amphitheater. Over three centuries old, it had sustained some damage, primarily due to the effects of time: dust accumulation, cracking of the varnish, and deterioration of the gold leaf covering the frame. A restoration was therefore carried out to restore the painting’s luster, using non-invasive techniques.
Published on 16 June 2026
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