It is a safe bet that the Louvre Museum, that hallowed sanctum that houses the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa and countless other priceless artistic treasures, has never seen moves quite like Janet Jackson’s.
The Grammy-winning pop princess gave her raunchy fabulous best for a good cause, bumping and grinding her way through a raucous set at a glitzy charity gala inside the museum.
The concert – the highlight of the Liaisons au Louvre benefit, with proceeds going to the museum – was a first-ever for an institution more often associated with string quartets in period costume than sexed-up American pop divas.
Held under I.M. Pei’s pyramid, Jackson’s performance was loud enough to make the glass panelling reverberate overhead.
Jackson, sporting a white crocodile pantsuit and surrounded by a cadre of crotch-grabbing dancers, belted out a medley of her greatest hits, including 1986’s What Have You Done For Me Lately, Miss You Much and Rhythm Nation, both from 1989, as well as her trademark hit Nasty.
Astonishingly for a charity event – where cumbersome evening gowns tend to keep guests glued to their seats – Jackson had the well-heeled crowd of about 300 up and dancing.
The Louvre closed early to the public to receive guests including Prince Albert of Monaco and actress Diane Kruger, as well as hundreds of art lovers and do-gooders with deep pockets.
They sipped flutes of champagne as they ambled among the works of art and explored private chambers once belonging to Louis XIV, the Sun King, before dining in a covered sculpture garden.
The Liaisons au Louvre event is organised by Becca Cason Thrash, a Houston-based philanthropist whose work for the museum has made her a beloved figure in France.
“Americans have done so much for culture here in France. They saved Versailles and Giverny,” Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said, referring to the sprawling royal palace in the Paris suburb of Versailles and the home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet in the northern Normandy region.
“I can only applaud the work done by Thrash, who is one of those marvellous Americans who put so much time and effort into saving the precious things weare lucky enough to have in this country.” Thrash herself played auctioneer at the event, using her Southern charm to up the ante and fetch the highest possible price for lots including luxury holidays and a painting by Richard Price, which went for $700,000.
Other top lots included an African safari (which fetched $90,000), a yacht trip ($100,000) and a Marrakesh getaway ($50,000).