Elena Rossi
Notre Dame de Paris is an 850-year-old Gothic cathedral that has inspired artists for centuries. The cathedral's French Gothic architecture, beautiful stained glass windows, and rich history have made it a profound cultural and symbolic icon. Over the years, it has been the subject of numerous paintings by famous artists, including Henri Matisse, Maximilien Luce, Childe Hassam, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Jacques-Louis David, and many others. The cathedral also houses several notable paintings, such as The Visitation by Jean Jouvenet and Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fountain of Wisdom by Antoine Nicolas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Paintings | 17th and 18th centuries |
| Artist | Jean Fouquet, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Henri Matisse, Francis Picabia, Dora Altounyan, Herbert James Gunn, Leonard Squirrell, Jacques-Louis David, Georges Rouget, Félix Bracquemond, Luc-Olivier Merson, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, W. T. Horton, Charles Guilloux, Eugène Delacroix, Stanislas Lépine, Childe Hassam, Maximilien Luce, Jean Jouvenet, Antoine Nicolas |
| Title of Paintings | Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I, Coronation of the Empress Josephine, Notre-Dame, The Bohemian, Notre Dame at Twilight, Notre Dame in the Morning Sun, View of Notre-Dame, A Glimpse of Notre Dame in the Late Afternoon, The Quai Saint-Michel and Notre-Dame, Nôtre Dame, Notre-Dame de Paris, The Visitation, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fountain of Wisdom, The Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, Liberty Leading the People |
| Type of Paintings | Renaissance, Impressionism, Pointillism, Neo-Impressionism, Neo-Classicism |
| Location of Paintings | Musée d'Orsay, Musée du Louvre, MoMA |
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What You'll Learn
Paintings housed in Notre Dame
The paintings housed in Notre Dame date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, showcasing the artistic quality of religious painting in Paris during that era. These works were commissioned by the cathedral's canons from the most illustrious Parisian painters. Unfortunately, the cathedral does not possess any paintings from the Middle Ages, as religious paintings from that period primarily existed in the form of small, easily transportable icons.
One notable painting housed in Notre Dame is "The Visitation" by Jean Jouvenet, which is one of the eight large paintings illustrating the Life of the Virgin. Unfortunately, it is the only remaining painting of the original eight. Another painting worth mentioning is one depicting Saint Thomas Aquinas, recalling the importance of this Dominican figure in 12th-century Paris.
In addition to these, Notre Dame has also inspired numerous artists over the centuries, resulting in a plethora of artistic depictions. For example, Dutch artist Johan Barthold Jongkind frequently painted the cathedral in the 1860s, with one of his most famous paintings now housed in the Musée d'Orsay. Henri Matisse, who had a studio overlooking Notre Dame, also painted the cathedral multiple times between 1900 and 1914, capturing it at different times of the day and showcasing his artistic evolution.
Other notable painters who have created works featuring Notre Dame include Jacques-Louis David, who painted "Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I" to commemorate the emperor's sacred crowning within the cathedral; Stanislas Lépine, who captured the apse of Notre Dame in a painting of the Pont de la Tournelle dated between 1862 and 1864; and Félix Bracquemond, who created a painting titled "Notre Dame" in 1870.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that while not all artworks inspired by Notre Dame are paintings, the cathedral's beauty and cultural significance have been captured in various art forms, including photography and etching.
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Paintings of Notre Dame
The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has inspired artists for centuries, from painters to photographers. The paintings preserved at Notre-Dame date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and were commissioned by the cathedral's canons from the most illustrious Parisian painters. These works bear witness to the artistic quality of religious painting in Paris at that time.
One of the most famous paintings housed in Notre-Dame is "The Visitation" by Jean Jouvenet, which illustrates the Life of the Virgin. In the early 18th century, the cathedral's choir underwent significant renovations, and eight large paintings were created to decorate it. Today, "The Visitation" is the only one that remains in place. Another painting that recalls the importance of the Dominicans in Paris in the 12th century is the depiction of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Throughout the centuries, artists have documented, depicted, and found inspiration in Notre-Dame's evolution. In 1804, Emperor Napoleon I was coronated inside the cathedral, and this momentous event was painted by Jacques-Louis David in his work "Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte." David was a Neoclassical painter, and his large-scale painting showcases the lavish nature of the ceremony, commemorating Napoleon's transformation into a God-sent emperor. Another painting depicting the coronation is "Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in Notre-Dame de Paris" by Jacques-Louis David and Georges Rouget, completed between 1805 and 1807.
Other artists who have created notable paintings of Notre-Dame include Dutch artist Johan Barthold Jongkind, whose works from the 1860s are housed in the Musée d'Orsay. Henri Matisse, who had a studio overlooking the cathedral, painted it many times between 1900 and 1914, capturing the landmark at different times of the day and showcasing his artistic evolution. Avant-gardist Francis Picabia, who was fascinated with the cathedral, painted it multiple times in the early 20th century, and his works were likely inspired by Claude Monet's impressionistic paintings of Rouen Cathedral.
The list of artists inspired by Notre-Dame continues with names such as Félix Bracquemond, Luc-Olivier Merson, Charles Guilloux, Stanislas Lépine, Eugène Delacroix, Maximilien Luce, and many others. These artists have all contributed to the rich artistic heritage that Notre-Dame has inspired, capturing its beauty and significance in their own unique ways.
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The Mays of Notre Dame
The gifts began in 1449, starting with a decorated tree and evolving into tabernacle decorations known as small Mays. Over time, the small Mays transitioned into large canvas paintings, or great Mays, commissioned by the guild and offered to the cathedral. These large paintings, measuring over three meters high, illustrated the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospels, or the founding themes of the Counter-Reformation. They were created in the Baroque style, reflecting the revival of religious art in the 17th century.
The Mays were initially placed in front of the Virgin's altar and later hung on the pillars of the central nave. As the collection expanded, they were also displayed in the chapels, arcades of the choir, braces, and the ambulatory. The artists chosen for these commissions were typically members of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, and receiving such a commission was a highly coveted honour.
Today, only 13 of the original Mays remain in their place of origin, with 50 of the 76 Mays still in existence. The rest were lost during the French Revolution or seized in 1793, eventually finding their way to the Musée des Petits Augustins and the Louvre. The surviving Mays constitute a significant artistic bequest, embodying the grand tradition of the cathedral and the gift of artists to the Church.
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The stained-glass windows
The windows were almost lost to history when rioters broke them during the French Revolution. They were subsequently replaced with plain, white glass in 1756, when the cathedral's canons decided that the interior was too dark. Thankfully, the rosettes were spared, preserving a portion of the original windows.
The Rose Window, located on the southern façade, is particularly noteworthy. A photograph of the original window, taken by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey in 1841, captures its beauty before it was reworked two decades later by Viollet-le-Duc. This window is accessible via a stairway in the south tower, which boasts 387 steps and offers a breathtaking view of the cathedral's surroundings.
The Gothic cathedral is adorned with sculptures and paintings that once featured vibrant colours and gilding. The buttresses, galleries, terraces, and vaults were strengthened in 1726 by Louis Antoine de Noailles, the archbishop of Paris, who also removed the gargoyles and replaced them with lead gutters.
Today, the Rose Windows stand as a testament to the enduring allure of Notre Dame, inspiring artists and writers alike, from Victor Hugo to Henri Matisse and Marcel Proust.
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The influence of Notre Dame
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the world's great works of architecture. It has inspired artists for centuries, from painters to photographers, and writers to poets. The cathedral's cultural significance transcends religion, and it has morphed into a civic emblem and a leading tourist attraction.
The paintings preserved at Notre Dame date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. They were commissioned by the cathedral's canons from the most illustrious Parisian painters, bearing witness to the artistic quality of religious painting in Paris at that time. The cathedral does not possess any paintings from the Middle Ages, when religious painting primarily existed in the form of icons. From the 13th century onwards, many families and trade guilds expressed their devotion to Mary by commissioning chapel decorations.
In the 17th century, this tradition evolved into large paintings known as "the Mays of Notre-Dame". These were commissioned nearly every year from 1630 to 1707. In the early 18th century, the guild ceased their annual offerings, and the cathedral’s choir underwent significant renovations. To decorate the new choir, the best painters of the time created eight large paintings illustrating the Life of the Virgin, of which only “The Visitation” by Jean Jouvenet remains in place. Another significant painting from this period is "Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fountain of Wisdom", painted in 1648 by Antoine Nicolas.
In addition to the paintings housed within Notre Dame, the cathedral has also been the subject of numerous artworks over the centuries. In 1804, after the violent deposition of the monarchy, Emperor Napoleon I was crowned inside the cathedral. This momentous event was painted by the Neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825). Another painting by David, "Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte", is a large-scale work from the Neo-Classical period that documents Napoleon's sacred crowning.
Other artists who have depicted Notre Dame in their work include Henri Matisse, Francis Picabia, Dora Altounyan, Herbert James Gunn, and Leonard Squirrell. Dutch artist Johan Barthold Jongkind (1819-1891) frequently painted the cathedral in the 1860s, with one of his most famous depictions housed today in the Musée d'Orsay.
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Frequently asked questions
Notre Dame houses paintings collected by the Parisian goldsmith guild, including "The Visitation" by Jean Jouvenet, and "The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew" by Charles Le Brun.
Jean Jouvenet is believed to have painted eight large paintings illustrating the Life of the Virgin in the early 18th century, of which only "The Visitation" remains in place.
Yes, aside from paintings, Notre Dame is home to a life-size stone statue of the Virgin Mary, which was moved inside the cathedral in the mid-1800s and survived the 2019 fire.
Notre Dame de Paris, a painting by Luc-Olivier Merson, and Notre Dame at Twilight, a painting by Charles Guilloux, both feature the cathedral.
Yes, aside from paintings, there are several notable photographs and etchings of Notre Dame, including works by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey, Bisson Frères, and Donald Shaw MacLaughlan.
