Notre Dame burns in 2019.
The time since has revealed how medieval and modern can work together to rebuild.
Building ontraditional techniquesused to create the cathedral, modern architects and conservators have fought to recreate and preserve.
Notre Dame burns in 2019. (Photo: Wandrille de Préville viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)
Thankfully, many of Notre-Dame’s treasures were eventuallysavedfrom the building, either during the fire or afterwards.
These 13 works have now been conserved and will bedisplayed at the Mobilier Nationalthrough July 2024.
They feature Christian scenes.
Inside the magnificent cathedral before the fire. (Photo: Peter K Burian viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)
The politico-religious background is more complex.
The paintings highlighted the Catholic victory in France’s prior religious wars.
While once all belonging to Notre-Dame, many paintings moved elsewhere during the French Revolution.
Jacques Blanchard, “The Descent of the Holy Spirit,” 1634. Currently in the collection of Notre-Dame. This image prior to restoration. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
It was rather miraculous.
We began removing them the day after the fire and decided they would all be restored.
What you see now is how they would have looked the day they were completed.
Charles Poerson, “The Preaching of St. Peter in Jerusalem,” 1642. Currently in the Notre-Dame collections. This image prior to restoration. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
They will return to their true home in advance of the planned December grandreopeningof Notre-Dame to the public.
Inside the magnificent cathedral before the fire.
Jacques Blanchard, The Descent of the Holy Spirit, 1634.
Currently in the collection of Notre-Dame.
This image prior to restoration.
Currently in the Notre-Dame collections.
This image prior to restoration.
