The artistic committee set up to replace Viollet-le-Duc’s stained glass windows has reached a decision. And as we explained in a recent article, the decision was not an enthusiastic one, because there was no unanimity on the winning project, that of Claire Tabouret (ill. 1). The President of the Republic and the Archbishop finally selected her. Emmanuel Macron did not dare to impose his favourite, Daniel Buren, who had been added to the committee’s initial choice.
-
- 1. Only images of the stained glass windows shown at the press conference
Photo: Didier Rykner - See the image in its page
-
- 2. Alfred Gérente (1821-1868)
Under the direction of Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1869)
Stained glass window from the Saint Peter chapel, 1865, fifth chapel of the right aisle (after restoration)
Paris, cathédrale Notre-Dame
Photo: Didier Rykner - See the image in its page
Buren or Tabouret, the scandal remains the same. As we have repeatedly written here, it is the replacement of the listed stained glass windows, spared by the fire and restored with donor money, that we are fighting against, not the artist chosen to do it.
The reopening of the cathedral showed everyone (those who were able to visit during the day) that Viollet-le-Duc’s stained glass windows were beautiful (ill. 2), as well as being protected historic monuments. Their removal is a scandal that is all the greater for its price. We had said that it would cost between 3 and 4 million euros. We were still under the estimate. When questioned by one of our colleagues at the press conference to present the project, Philippe Jost, the president of the public institution "in charge of the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral" confirmed that the cost of creating the stained glass windows would be €4 million, a figure that does not include the removal of the existing windows. This means that more than €4 million will be diverted from the Ministry of Culture’s budget to vandalise Notre-Dame. What’s more, this is in no way an operation to "conserve and restore" the cathedral, and Philippe Jost and the Établissement Public are overstepping their statutory remit.
During the presentation, Claire Tabouret stated that she wanted to "pay homage to Viollet-le-Duc in her stained glass windows". Either this is irony, or it sounds like it. The person who agrees to replace these stained glass windows, condemning them to the obscurity of the crates, claims to want to pay tribute to them. It’s hard to believe.
As for claiming that these stained glass windows would be exhibited in the Musée de l’Œuvre, which would be an extremely bad idea and obviously won’t happen, as we’ve already written, the museum would still have to be built. At the moment, however, the museum is at a standstill, and no decision has been taken (we’ll talk about this in a later article). In short, the President of the Republic persists in his desire to vandalise Notre-Dame, but is reluctant to create the museum it deserves.
Since Emmanuel Macron is stubborn in his desire, encouraged by a Minister of Culture who we have known to be more inspired, this affair will continue before the courts. There is just one question: the competition is over, an artist and a master glass-maker have been appointed and will start work (six months of study, then at least a year of execution, which takes us to the second half of 2026), but no formal authorisation for work will probably be given before then. The question is: what decision can be challenged? If it’s impossible to go to court before the stained glass windows have been made, it’s possible that the Ministry of Culture will have stained glass windows made at great cost without being able to install them. No big deal, after all, what’s 4 million euros? In the meantime, sign the petition, and get others to sign it.