Notre Dame’s rebuilding is in its final stages. After 346 days, Paris’ monumental cathedral will open its doors again. Re-opening will serve to open a new page Major fire on April 15, 2019destroyed the needle designed by Viollet-le-Duc Part of the roof in the 19th century. Despite the short five-year deadline set by President Emmanuel Macron, the work progressed with the wind. Restoration work will continue until the end of this decade, but everything looks ready for Notre Dame to welcome visitors again from 2017. December 8, 2024.
But this final stage in the reconstruction of the Gothic temple was shaken by one of the recurrent controversies in public life in France. A year before the reopening, Macron visited the works on December 8. He then announced that an organization would be held. public competition Choosing the artist to design Six new stained glass windows for Notre Dame. The President emphasized a decision taken by consensus between the French Church and the Elysée, emphasizing that this understanding “will bear the mark of the 21st century.” The new stained glass windows will be located in the southern part of the nave and will replace six other stained glass windows designed by Violle-le-Duc that were not affected by the fire.
Although these new windows do not represent a major change, the organization of this competition has sparked controversy in France. Almost 125,000 people signed A petition campaign was launched on the internet against the removal of Le Duc’s designs and the introduction of a contemporary design for others. “Contemporary stained glass took its place in ancient architecture when it was lost. But they do not have a profession that can replace the works that already exist,” criticizes journalist Didier Rykner, the magazine’s director. Tribune de l’art and the organizer of the petition.
“Are we going to continue to harm Violet-le-Duc?”
Such debates are not new regarding the reconstruction of Notre Dame, one of the main cultural projects of Macron’s presidency. Two days after the massive fire, then Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that an international architectural design competition would be held. “A new needle adapted to the techniques and challenges of our age”. This initiative sparked heated debate. Faced with public pressure and after Philippe was replaced by Jean Castex, Macron resigned from this project in July 2020 and made the decision. Recreate the needle the same as the original. The manager later also refused to replace some of the stained glass windows, but changed his mind three years later.
The restoration of Notre Dame “should be an opportunity to restore national unity, which we have sorely lacked in other areas. However, these works have once again given rise to a debate in which it is difficult to find the reason unless there is a reason. The President’s desire to leave his mark on the building“Rykner recently complained in a forum in the conservative newspaper ‘Le Figaro’. “Are we going to continue to damage Violet-le-Duc? (…) Will we destroy those who are not affected by the fire?” adds the director Tribune de l’art.
Only 8% of stained glass windows date from the Gothic period
On the other hand, “21. Supporters of the creation of the “century” stained glass windows explain that those designed by Viollet-le-Duc will be displayed in an exhibition. New museum about Notre Dame history. Located in the heart of Paris, in a building near the 14th-century temple, this center will open in the coming years – the opening date is not yet certain. In favor of this change, the Archbishop now reminded: “Only 8% of Notre Dame’s stained glass windows date from the Middle Ages.”. That is, those to be replaced were created within the framework of another restoration of the mid-19th century (1845-64), perhaps the most important restoration in the history of the Paris cathedral.
There are countless examples in France, from the Metz Cathedral with its magnificent stained glass windows designed by the expressionist artist Marc Chagall to the ceiling of the Paris Opera, which was renewed with a mural by the same French painter. Contemporary restorations that enhance the original work. Despite this, there are growing segments of French society that are increasingly reluctant to change. This seems to illustrate the controversy surrounding Notre Dame’s stained glass windows. “This now growing debate, far from being anecdotal, brings us into philosophical dilemmanot to mention civilization,” he wrote a few days ago. Figaro Author Camille Pascal.