Art Of The Day Weekly
#389 - from 21 May 2015 to 27 May 2015
La Sainte Chapelle © Didier Plowy - Centre des Monuments nationaux.
A brand new Sainte Chapelle
PARIS – It took six years to build the Sainte Chapelle, so many more to restore it. It is true that it is an iconic work of art that has lived through the centuries. Saint Louis wanted it built to hold the highly paid relics of the Lord's passion, including the crown of thorns (135 000 pounds, three times the cost of the building itself!). It was built between 1242 and 1248. Following a long thirty-year restoration during the XIXth century, a new campaign that started in 2008 and was partly financed by the company Velux is coming to an end. It concerned all the glass windows on the North aisle and the Western rose, that is, half of the 1113 scenes represented. The rose was entirely removed and put back into place. The art restorers were surprised to find that 78 of the 87 panels were the original ones. To fight air pollution, a double-glass was set up that helps avoid the over-use of sealing products on the lead to make them waterproof. The objective now is to reach its first millennium in full shape.
• From 20 to 23 May 2015, night visits to the Sainte Chapelle are free of cost.