The Grand Palais features sketches of the new stained glass windows for Notre-Dame by Claire Tabure. This controversial reconstruction project will replace the legacy of Viollet-le-Duc.
An exhibition opens at the Grand Palais in Paris that could either put an end to — or, conversely, reignite — one of the most heated debates in the art world in recent years. Until March 15, 2026, the public will see full-scale models of the new stained glass windows for the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, created by artist Claire Tabure.
The Frenchwoman, who resides in Los Angeles, won an international competition, surpassing 110 contenders. Her project, executed in ink on paper, will replace the historic 19th-century stained glass windows by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the chapels of the southern nave. This decision, approved by Emmanuel Macron, has faced sharp criticism from conservatives: a petition against the dismantling of the surviving historic windows from the fire has gathered nearly 150,000 signatures.
Tabure proposed a figurative solution on the theme of Pentecost (the descent of the Holy Spirit). In doing so, the artist attempted to find a compromise: expressive figures in the foreground will coexist with a background that quotes the geometry of Viollet-le-Duc. The legendary Atelier Simon-Marq will carry out the project.
Tabure herself compares her project to the Louvre Pyramid, reminding that any new art in the historic center of Paris is initially met with resistance. "Changes should be made cautiously, and this project is very delicate," the artist asserts.
