We now know more about what the future altar of Notre-Dame de Paris will look like. On June 23, the diocese of Paris announced the name of the designer, Guillaume Bardet, chosen by the archbishop to design the baptistery, the altar, the ambo, the cathedra and the tabernacle of the cathedral. He presented his project, alongside Sylvain Dubuisson, chosen to design a reliquary for the crown of thorns, and Ionna Vautrin, chosen to design the 1,500 oak chairs. All these elements must be installed at Notre-Dame de Paris from September 2024.
“Noble Simplicity”
The altar will be in bronze and will have a flared shape. Like all the furniture, its design is driven by the idea of ” noble simplicity present in the Constitution of the Second Vatican Council on the liturgy, explained Mgr Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, rector of Notre-Dame de Paris, during a presentation of the project to the press. ” This form rises from the ground, manifesting this stone of sacrifice which flares out to become the Eucharistic table “, he commented. The artist explains that he started by drawing the ambo, then the circular baptistery inspired by the shape of a cup, the altar in turn echoing the shapes of the baptistery. ” It was the baptistery that made me go to the altarhe confided to Christian family. I wanted to offer this elevation, which is at the same time powerful and brings a form of serenity. With this rounded shape, I also wanted to express softness. »
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An overview of the baptistery, which will be placed in the axis of the choir, towards the entrance. © Guillaume Bardet
A choice that remains to be validated on July 13
The entire Notre-Dame interior design project, including the altar, will be presented to the National Heritage and Architecture Commission, which will meet on July 13. ” She will give her opinion and take the decisions she wants. “says Bishop Ribadeau Dumas. In a video message in which he announced his decision to entrust the production of the liturgical furniture to Guillaume Bardet, the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich, also indicated that ” changes will take place “. These could in particular concern the color of the patina which will be placed on the bronze before the installation of the furniture, planned from September 2024, brown in the project. ” Regarding the color, we are for the moment rather in a schemesays Guillaume Bardet, the density, the luminosity, are things that we will gradually fix. »
