Current Events & Trends | July 2019 | Barbara Basbanes Richter

Notre-Dame Celebrated in New Exhibit

Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum

Édouard Baldus, Notre-Dame de Paris, 1850s.

 

Who can forget the searing images of Notre-Dame burning on April 15 of this year? The 850-year old-cathedral is not merely a religious center, but represents the beating heart of Paris. Indeed, the city and the banks of the Seine River are included on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, with the cathedral at its core. Though much of the wooden trusses and spire were destroyed by the flames, the cathedral’s rose windows, religious relics, and other works of art were saved by staff and city emergency workers trained to rescue irreplaceable treasures.

Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum

Paul Collemant, Bridge on the Seine, June 1, 1924.

As reconstruction gets underway, the J.Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is mounting an exhibition showcasing the beauty and  cultural significance of Notre Dame. An Enduring Icon: Notre-Dame Cathedral will be on display in the East Pavilion from July 23 through October 20 and will present paintings, engravings, and rare books that celebrate eight centuries of Notre-Dame and its influence.

“The recent fire at Notre-Dame reverberated around the world, with millions of people watching the event unfold live on their screens,” says Timothy Potts, director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. “We thought it appropriate at this moment to illuminate the artistic and cultural impact that Notre-Dame has played in European history, drawing on the rich holdings of the Museum and the Getty Research Institute.” 

Fluctuat nec mergitur.

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