Yesterday I wrote about Bonnard’s sketches, and included an unkind description of his wife Marthe. “Bonnard’s wife Marthe was a difficult and neurotic woman who spent a disproportionate amount of her day in obsessive washing and bathing. Thanks to this quirk, Bonnard made many intimate figurative works.” I had read that Marthe was neurotic, difficult, …
Artworks saved and lost at Notre Dame
I posted yesterday about the burning of Notre Dame. The medieval cathedral was home to many paintings, musical instruments, religious relics, and stained glass, and the building itself was a work of art. Since yesterday’s post, I’ve been collecting status updates for artworks and the cathedral, working to find out which artworks escaped the fire, and which joined the list of martyrs. I did what I could to find Notre Dame related artworks and updates today, but I would appreciate your help filling in the gaps. If you have visited the cathedral and would like to share your personal stories, or if you see something you think should be added to this post, please send it my way, or post your thoughts in the comments section. I’d love to hear your stories.
Paris Fire Brigade. Image from WJLA
Crown of Thorns
The Ancient “Oak Forest”
North Rose Window
Pipe Organ
The original Great Organ, one of the world’s most famous musical instruments, dates back to medieval times. Over the years, organ makers renovated the instrument and added onto it, but it still contained pipes from the Middle Ages. The Archbishop of Paris confirmed the organ is safe, and I see reports using the words “unscathed” and “saved” but I also see reports that it was likely to have suffered damage from heat, smoke, debris, and water. (Source: CNN, various)
Musical instruments built for precision in tone don’t typically “bounce back” after heat, smoke, debris, and the application of sudden cold water, so I imagine there will be significant restoration on the pipe organ.
The Apostles, green copper statues removed for renovation before the fire
May Paintings
Statues
It is not yet clear how much damage there is to the cathedral’s exterior, where a menagerie of menacing gargoyles and chimeras stand guard and a system of flying buttresses support the outside walls. (Source: CNN)
Still no word about the bees.