Following its grand reopening earlier this month, Notre Dame Cathedral unveiled new stained glass designs that will replace six 19th-century windows with contemporary creations. The plan has sparked controversy at the newly renovated Paris landmark.
“You have to trust contemporary artists”
Claire Tabouret, a 43-year-old French painter from Los Angeles, was one of more than 100 artists who submitted designs for six new windows in the chapels on Notre Dame's south side. The existing windows were installed by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who oversaw the last major restoration of the Paris Cathedral in the 19th century. Tabouret's winning designs for Notre Dame's 21st-century stained glass windows feature vibrant colors and depict groups of people praying. To bring her designs to life, Tabouret will work with Atelier Simon-Marq, a French glass workshop founded in 1640 that has collaborated with artists such as Marc Chagall and Joan Miró.
“At first I asked myself if I was worth it. There is a lot of boldness in this commission, which will take place in a beloved and historic building,” said Tabouret. “But you have to trust contemporary artists. In times like ours, marked by war, extreme division and tension, this opportunity to use my art to promote unity through the theme of Pentecost is a wonderful gesture of hope.”
Notre Dame stained glass plans spark 'fascinating debate'
Nearly 1,110 square feet of stained glass windows decorate Notre Dame. When the cathedral caught fire in 2019, its roof collapsed and the window panes were covered in toxic lead powder. Miraculously, the stained glass survived the fire, but required extensive cleaning and preservation. The plan to replace Viollet-le-Duc's six 19th-century windows featuring Tabouret's designs elicited mixed reactions. Proponents point out that Violett-le-Duc's geometric patterns are not among the cathedral's most interesting or important stained glass windows. Notre Dame is best known for its rose window, which remains unchanged.
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However, over 200,000 people have signed a petition against the €4 million plan. Additionally, because the windows were not damaged enough to require replacement, some critics claim the plan violates the 1964 Venice Charter, which provides guidelines for the preservation of historic buildings. In a recent press conference, Tabouret said: “I have been reading about people's different opinions because I want to understand their arguments and also take an open and two-way approach. I find it a fascinating debate.”
The recent reopening of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Cathedral officially reopened to the public earlier this month. The reconstruction cost $865 million and took five and a half years after the fire in April 2019. The reopening ceremonies, which began on December 7 and lasted eight days, included musical programs, a city procession and the cathedral's first mass since the rededication of its high altar. As of December 16, Notre Dame resumed its normal public hours. The cathedral has also launched a new mobile app that offers text and audio tours, reservation and appointment information, and more.