Notre Dame Unveils Plans for Contemporary Stained Glass

Following its grand reopening earlier this month, Notre Dame Cathedral revealed new stained glass designs, which will replace six 19th-century windows with contemporary creations. The plan has sparked controversy at the newly-renovated Paris landmark.

Claire Tabouret, a 43-year-old French painter based in Los Angeles, was one of over 100 artists who submitted their designs for six new windows in the chapels on the south side of Notre Dame. The existing windows were installed by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who oversaw the Paris cathedral’s last major restoration in the 19th century. Tabouret’s winning designs for Notre Dame’s 21st-century stained glass feature vibrant coloration and depict groups of people in prayer. To realize her designs, Tabouret will collaborate with Atelier Simon-Marq, a French glass workshop that was founded in 1640 and has worked with the likes of Marc Chagall and Joan Miró.

“At first, I questioned if I was worthy. There’s a great deal of audacity in this commission, which will take place in a beloved and historic building,” said Tabouret. “But you have to trust contemporary artists. In times like ours, marked by war, extreme division, and tension, this opportunity to use my art to promote unity through the theme of the Pentecost is a wonderful gesture of hope.”

Notre Dame Stained Glass Plans Spark “Fascinating Debate”

Nearly 1,110 square feet of stained glass decorates Notre Dame. When the cathedral caught fire in 2019, its roof collapsed, coating the window panes in toxic lead powder. The stained glass miraculously survived the blaze but required extensive cleaning and conservation. The plan to replace Viollet-le-Duc’s six 19th-century windows with Tabouret’s designs has garnered mixed reactions. Supporters note that Violett-le-Duc’s geometric designs are not the cathedral’s most interesting or important stained glass windows. Notre Dame is more famous for its rose window, which will remain unchanged.

However, over 200,000 people have signed a petition opposing the €4 million plan. Additionally, because the windows were not damaged badly enough to require replacement, some critics suggest the plan violates the 1964 Venice Charter, which provides guidelines for preserving historic buildings. In a recent press conference, Tabouret said, “I’ve read about the different opinions of people because I want to understand their arguments and also to take an approach that is open and two-way. I find it a fascinating debate.”

Notre Dame Cathedral officially reopened to the public earlier this month. The rebuilding effort cost $865 million and took five-and-a-half years following the April 2019 fire. Reopening ceremonies, which began on December 7 and lasted eight days, included musical programs, a city procession, and the cathedral’s first Mass since the reconsecration of its high altar. As of December 16, Notre Dame resumed its normal public opening hours. The cathedral also launched a new mobile app that offers text and audio tours, reservation and scheduling information, and more.