In the aftermath of the catastrophic fire that nearly destroyed Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2019, a remarkable collection of 17th-century masterpieces known as the “Masters of Notre-Dame” was discovered hanging in the cathedral’s dim side chapels. Despite the extensive damage caused by the blaze, these paintings emerged largely unscathed, and they will now take center stage in a new exhibition at the Mobilier National in Paris.
The exhibition, titled “Notre-Dame Restored and Rethought,” explores the ongoing efforts to restore and reimagine the iconic cathedral five years after the devastating fire. It features contemporary artworks, cathedral furniture, and a selection of 13 newly restored paintings from the Masters of Notre-Dame collection. According to a statement from France’s culture ministry, the exhibition presents a unique opportunity to view these masterpieces together in the order they were originally painted and displayed.
Emmanuel Pénicaut, director of Mobilier National collections, highlights the significance of the exhibition: “The exhibition is a chance to see them all in one place, in the order they were painted, which is how they would have been originally displayed. What you see now is how they would have looked the day they were completed.”
The Masters of Notre-Dame collection consists of 76 oil paintings created between 1630 and 1707 by renowned French artists, including Nicolas Poussin and Philippe de Champaigne. These works were commissioned by Paris’ Goldsmiths’ Guild as part of an annual competition, with one painting chosen each May to be displayed before the statue of the Virgin Mary outside Notre-Dame.
The paintings were initially installed in the nave of the cathedral, accompanied by explanatory texts and poems. They served as a powerful tool for promoting Catholicism in France during a period of religious conflict and the Counter-Reformation. However, during the French Revolution, many of the paintings were removed from the cathedral and dispersed.
In the 19th century, some of the works were returned to Notre-Dame, but architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc had them moved to the cathedral’s side chapels. Pénicaut laments the impact of these changes: “The paintings suffered two major catastrophes: the Revolution and the arrival of Viollet-le-Duc, who got rid of much of the medieval decorations in Notre-Dame. In 1905, they were put back … not along the nave pillars as before but in the side chapels, which meant we lost the unity of the collection.”
Today, only 52 of the original 76 paintings are known to exist. Some are privately owned, while others are housed in French churches. Notre-Dame itself possesses 13 of the paintings, which will be featured in the upcoming exhibition alongside contemporary artworks and cathedral furniture.
Pénicaut emphasizes the exceptional quality of the paintings: “They are truly great classical paintings, and were painted by the best artists of the age. They not only have a great religious significance but an artistic value, too.”
After their display at the Mobilier National exhibition, the 13 restored paintings will return to Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is scheduled to reopen in December 2024, more than five and a half years after the devastating fire.
