The artistic committee set up for the replacement of the stained glass windows of Viollet-le-Duc has made a decision. And as we explained in a recent article, he decided without enthusiasm, because there was no unanimity around the winning project, that of Claire Tabouret (ill. 1). In fact, it was she who was ultimately selected by the President of the Republic and the Archbishop. Emmanuel Macron therefore did not dare to impose his favorite, Daniel Buren, who had been added to the committee’s initial choice.
- 1. Only images of the stained glass windows presented during the press conference
Photo : Didier Rykner
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See the image on his page
- 2. Alfred Gérente (1821-1868)
under the direction of Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1869)
Stained glass window in the Saint-Pierre chapel, 1865, fifth chapel on the right side aisle (after restoration)
Paris, Notre-Dame Cathedral
Photo : Didier Rykner
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See the image on his page
Buren or Tabouret, the scandal does not change. As we have repeatedly written here, it is the replacement of the listed stained glass windows, spared from the fire and restored with donors’ money that we are fighting, not the artist chosen to do it.
The reopening of the cathedral showed everyone (those who were able to visit it during the day) that the stained glass windows of Viollet-le-Duc were beautiful (ill. 2), in addition to being protected historical monument. Their kidnapping is a scandal all the greater because it is costly. We said it would cost between 3 and 4 million euros. We were still below the estimate. Questioned by one of our colleagues during the press conference presenting the project, Philippe Jost, the president of the public establishment “ responsible for the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral » confirmed that the cost of creating the stained glass windows would be 4 million euros, a figure which does not include the removal of the existing stained glass windows. This means more than 4 million euros will be diverted from the budget of the Ministry of Culture to vandalize Notre-Dame. Let us add that this is in no way an operation of “conservation and restoration” of the cathedral, and that Philippe Jost and the public establishment exceed their mission entrusted by law.
During the presentation, Claire Tabouret said she wanted “ pay homage to Viollet-le-Duc in its stained glass windows “. Either it’s irony or it looks like it. The one who agrees to replace these stained glass windows, condemning them to the darkness of the boxes, claims to want to pay homage to them. We think we’re dreaming.
As for claiming that these stained glass windows would be exhibited at the Museum of the Work, which would be an extremely bad idea and which obviously will not happen as we have already written, this museum would still have to be built. However, for the moment this is at a standstill, and no decision has been made (we will talk about it in a future article). In short, the President of the Republic persists in his desire to vandalize Notre-Dame, but hesitates to create the museum that it deserves.
As Emmanuel Macron persists in his will, encouraged by a Minister of Culture who we knew was better inspired, this case will therefore continue before the courts. With just one question: the competition is over, an artist and a master glassmaker have been appointed and will start working (six months of study then at least one year of production, which brings us to the second half of 2026), but no formal authorization for work will probably be given before this date. The question is: which decision can be attacked? If it is impossible to go to court before the stained glass windows are made, it is possible that the Ministry of Culture will have stained glass windows made at great cost without being able to install them. Nothing serious, ultimately, what is 4 million euros? In the meantime, sign the petition, and get it signed.
