Fundraising launched to restore Saint-Louis de Vincennes

7/2/24 - Restauration and fundraising - Vincennes, église Saint-Louis - Of course, you have to push open the door. From the street, its silhouette is austere, clad in millstone and red brick (ill. 1), but inside, the Saint-Louis de Vincennes church reveals admirable architecture and décor. With no pillars to block the view, the vast nave is surmounted by two pairs of reinforced concrete arches intersecting at right angles (ill. 2). Its ornamentation harmoniously combines glass, ceramics, painting and sculpture.
Built between 1914 and 1924 by Jacques Droz and Joseph Marrast, it combines tradition and modernity, ancient techniques and contemporary materials. The centered Greek cross plan was inspired by Byzantine architecture, while fresco painting on the walls was handing over to modern tastes, but was applied to reinforced concrete, offering a more varied chromatic range in the 20th century. As for the skylights, they are set in cement. The artists called upon by the Diocese were part of the Ateliers d’art sacré (Sacred Art Workshops), created in 1919 with the aim of renewing creative activity within the Church.

1. Jacques Droz (1882-1955) and
Joseph Marrast (1881-1971)
Saint Louis de Vincennes, consecrated in 1924
Photo: Parishes of Notre-Dame de Saint-Mandé
and Saint-Louis de Vincennes

See the image in its page

2. Jacques Droz (1882-1955) et
Joseph Marrast (1881-1971)
Saint-Louis de Vincennes, consacrée en 1924
Photo: Parishes of Notre-Dame de Saint-Mandé
and Saint-Louis de Vincennes

See the image in its page

The Stations of the Cross are composed of surprisingly large scenes, designed by Henri Marret. Maurice Denis is the author of the Beatitudes that unfold in the upper section, also frescoed (ill. 3 and 4). While Marret worked alone, Denis surrounded himself with a team including Gabrielle Faure, Charles Plessard and Maurice Lavergne. We also owe him the great choir composition, La Glorification of Saint Louis,…