In fact, there was competition for the job, but Le Bon — an art historian and an upbeat character in thick-rimmed glasses who deflects any mention of the parlous state of French politics with a gimlet focus on museum business — was considered the right choice. He also secured swift approval from the other president, Macron. (As director of the Picasso Museum, Le Bon had lent the first lady several works to jazz up the Élysée.)