Get a colorful sneak peek at Notre-Dame’s new stained glass designs

The French government has unveiled modern designs to replace six windows at Notre Dame with new stained glass, commemorating the cathedral’s successful restoration after it almost burned down.

The new window designs come from a French artist Claire Tabouretknown for her vibrant, expressive paintings that explore ideas of identity, memory and feminine power. Tabouret’s proposal beat out more than 100 different entries in a national competition. The project is part of an €846 million effort to rebuild Notre-Dame after the devastating 2019 fire.

“At first I wondered if I was worth it,” Tabouret said in a statement, per Artistic‘S Maxwell Rabb. “There is a lot of courage in this assignment, which takes place in a popular and historic building. But you have to trust contemporary artists.”

Her winning entry is decorated with various blue, pink and yellow shades representing people from different backgrounds praying together for Pentecost.

“In times like ours, marked by war, extreme division and tension, this opportunity to use my art to promote unity through the theme of Pentecost is a beautiful gesture of hope,” the artist said in the statement. ART news’ Tessa Salomon.

The new glass windows replace those on the south side of the cathedral, originally created by the 19th century architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Contemporary renovations such as these have been added throughout Notre-Dame’s nearly 900-year history. Voillet-le-Duc himself was responsible for major updates and changes to the cathedral in his time.

Still, some wonder whether the new windows should be installed at all. After the French Ministry of Culture first announced its plans to update the stained glass, more than 240,000 people signed a petition against the idea.

France’s National Heritage Committee has argued that replacing the historic windows violates international heritage guidelines. The 1964 Venice Charter calls for original work to be retained unless absolutely necessary, and Viollet-le-Duc’s original windows have been successfully cleaned and restored since the fire.

“I have read about people’s different opinions because I want to understand their arguments and also take an approach that is open and two-way,” Tabouret told the newspaper. Agence France Presse. “I think it is a fascinating debate.”

Notre Dame recently reopened this month. Although the windows of Violett-le-Duc will disappear, most of the historic stained glass windows can be seen again, including the iconic rose window.

To create the new stained glass, Tabouret collaborates with Simon-Marqa historic glassmaker in Reims. Founded in 1650, the studio restored the stained glass window of Notre-Dame de Reims after World War II and has collaborated on contemporary works with renowned artists such as Marc Chagall and Joan Miró.

For her part, Tabouret is excited to leave her mark on history and bring her designs to life.

“My work was dedicated to figurative painting and personal subjects,” says Tabouret Artnet‘by Sarah Cascone. “I had reached a point in my life where I wanted to be of service to something bigger than me.”