A plan backed by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to replace stained-glass windows in Notre Dame Cathedral’s side chapels with contemporary creations has been criticised as “vandalism”.
A petition has been signed by more than 120,000 people to retain the original windows. Critics say the change would destroy the architectural harmony of the historical building that was ravaged by fire in April 2019.
During a visit to the 13th-century cathedral this month, Macron announced the windows in six of the seven chapels in the south aisle would be removed and replaced by contemporary stained-glass windows that would be chosen in a competition.
The idea is reported to have originated from the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, who wrote to the Élysée saying he would like to see the state commission a series of six new windows.
Macron responded that the idea had his full approval. The windows identified for replacement, designed by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who also added the spire in the mid-19th century, were not touched by the fire and would be put on display in a newly created Notre Dame Museum, the president said.
Now, more than 122,000 people have signed a petition launched just over a fortnight ago calling for the original windows to remain.
“The stained glass windows in Notre Dame designed by Viollet-le-Duc were created as a coherent whole. It is a genuine creation that the architect wanted to be faithful to the cathedral’s gothic origins,” it reads.
Didier Rykner, the founder and editor of the online magazine La Tribune de l’Art who created the petition, said a far better contemporary gesture would be to commission new windows for the cathedral’s north tower, where the battle by firefighters to save the edifice was most fierce.
“As you can see from some of the videos, the cathedral has bays without stained glass windows, closed only by white skylights. Installing these stained-glass windows would not detract from the harmony intended by Viollet-le-Duc, and would enhance the cathedral” wrote Rykner, who is a high-profile commentator on France’s architectural heritage.
“It would also have a magnificent symbolic role: it was in the north tower, when they fought the fire that threatened to bring down the bells and, in turn, the cathedral, that the firefighters risked their lives to save the monument. Paying tribute to the firefighters, bringing new stained-glass windows to Notre Dame without vandalising Viollet-le-Duc’s work, giving future visitors more to see: this commonsense solution could suit everyone.”
Hours after the blaze, Macron had suggested he was in favour of a “contemporary gesture” in the rebuilding of the cathedral that would open next December, suggesting a new spire could be “inventive”.
After vehement public opposition, the president abandoned the idea. The new 96-metre (315ft) spire, installed in November, looks identical to the one destroyed by flames.
The cathedral is due to reopen on 8 December 2024.
