In 2019, the reconstruction of the framework of Notre Dame de Paris “identically” with the unique fabrics and their implementation is gifted as a technical, ancient, and from time to time mystical necessity. On the other hand, this angle, moderately contemporary, merits to be puzzled as a cultural proven fact that calls into query the perspective of our societies in opposition to their historical past.
Development at the challenge entrusted to it by means of the state within the 1830s, the Ancient Monuments Provider has been the only real guarantor of the nationwide heritage for just about 100 and fifty years.
Confronted with the devastation of the Nice Battle, he established the doctrine of reconstruction of destroyed structures or portions of structures that had been occupied after the 2d International Battle and remained unchanged till the mid-Nineties. It was once no longer about remaking the monuments “identical” to what they had been ahead of the catastrophe, however about restoring them to their authentic look whilst bettering the triple standpoint, technical, archaeological and creative.
The frames, as an example, had been re-embedded in bolstered concrete for causes of financial system, ease of upkeep and fireplace resistance. The fabric may also be used to support volatile constructions or to exchange a standard wall at a cheaper price. In Rouen, the huge picket vault of the prosecutor’s room within the courthouse, burnt down in March 1944, has been restored in look because of a skinny veil of bolstered concrete supporting each the internal picket paneling and the outer cladding of thick slates. The trade associated with all of the construction of the construction: because of the thrust of the brand new vault, thrice heavier than the previous one, it was once important to make stronger the rules and drill in the course of the thickness of the partitions with a view to set up steel anchors that attach the vault, intermediate concrete flooring and foundations.
Discovering the “reference” state
Archaeologically, it was once commonplace to take away parts deemed inappropriate, particularly the ones from the Nineteenth century, a devalued duration of artwork historical past. The objective was once to discover a reference state, regularly the oldest recognized. For instance, for the reconstruction of the Carignan (Ardennes) church destroyed in 1940, the manager architect Yves-Marie Froidevauk determined to go back to its 1681 state by means of changing the Nineteenth-century stone porch with a classical-style belfry.
The politics of advent
In spite of everything, the final enchancment involved the realm of advent. If repetitive ornamental parts (cornices, balustrades, geometric or plant embellishes, mouldings) had been remade as they had been ahead of the catastrophe, this was once in most cases no longer the case for distinctive creative parts, similar to sculpted tympanums, capitals, stained glass home windows, furnishings. Their alternative was once then a possibility to ask recent creators.
All through the primary reconstruction, the artists had been ordered to exchange the destroyed furnishings parts on a case-by-case foundation. All through the second one, the Historical Monuments Provider noticed the destruction as a possibility to increase a coverage of making historical monuments, particularly within the box of stained glass. The intervention was once no longer most effective restorative: gadgets from the Nineteenth century and stained glass, which have been thought to be irrelevant, had been regularly got rid of, broken or no longer, in prefer of recent creations. The order was once in line with a company thought: the purpose was once to create a category of artisans specialised in interventions within the heritage surroundings. It was once no longer till 1955 that commissions started to be opened for artists who weren’t grasp glassmakers, similar to Jacques Villon (in Metz) or Marc Chagall (in Reims).
The final interventions at the monuments broken within the 2d International Battle date from the mid-eighties of the final century. In Rouen, the tower of Saint-Romain Cathedral was once rebuilt in 1984 with a bolstered concrete body.
Undisputed, reconstruction-improvement implemented to all forms of interventions, post-disaster or no longer: the reconstitution of the attic of the Parliament of Brittany in Rennes after the fireplace of 1994, the recovery of the fortress of Falaise (Calvados) in 1997 (Morbihan Suscinio).
New reconstruction practices
However within the mid-Nineties, new (re)development practices gave the impression, outdoor the scope of the ancient monuments provider. The interventions had been impressed by means of the strategies of experimental archeology that sought to raised perceive the unique artifacts in the course of the replica of an artistic gesture. In Saint-Silvain-d’Anjou, an affiliation introduced by means of town’s mayor restored a 1000-year-old picket fortress a couple of steps from its authentic web site to open it to guests. In 1992, the reconstruction of the frigate Hermione started in Rochefort with a twin objective. It was once no longer most effective about refurbishing an object with memorial and heritage worth, but in addition about putting in its manufacturing inside of a venture this is open to the general public.
The development of the (imaginary) Gedelon fortress, which started in 1997, was once in line with the similar technique, however with an extra requirement within the box of archeology of fabrics and gestures. The objective was once to search out wisdom and fabrics that correspond to the reference duration that was once selected. The distraction of the current is eradicated for science, but in addition for spectacle, as an example with staff wearing medieval costumes.
The legacy of the spectacle already existed: the primary sound and lightweight came about in Chambord in 1950 with world good fortune and more than one avatars over the years, similar to that of Puy-du-Foy. Guedelon added a systematic size and his good fortune testified to the intensity of public expectancies, which have been no longer simply leisure customers.
The present development websites for the frames of the Paris cathedral and the tower of the abbey church of Saint-Denis are a continuation of this reversal of observe begun within the Nineties. The 3-fold enchancment that characterised the reconstructions after the 2 global wars has evaporated. Depreciated, fashionable tactics are thought to be irrelevant on the very second when their centuries-old use may have demonstrated their financial and structural relevance.
As for inventive enchancment, it now turns out anachronistic, as proven by means of the lawsuit towards the insertion of modern stained glass in Notre Dame de Paris on the behest of the President of the Republic. Making use of the teachings of Rochefort and Guedelon, two Parisian initiatives mix science and spectacle. It’s as a lot about rediscovering the previous glance as it’s about securing the previous gesture and fabrics, below the gaze of the general public who’re invited to observe the development of the works, at the spot (in Saint-Denis) or with a extend (in Paris) in the course of the media. In spite of everything, the commercial stability is ensured in the similar method, with donations and source of revenue from the display’s web page.
Has the reconstruction of all or a part of the misplaced heritage discovered a brand new starting? The legacy of the spectacle, which could also be a systematic heritage, has discovered its target market, but it surely most effective refers back to the iconic structures of nationwide historical past. Most likely it marks the top of this heritage growth that was once condemned by means of professionals within the Nineties, from the historian Françoise Choa, who noticed it as an indication of “collective narcissism”, to the director of structure and heritage Francois Barre who nervous in regards to the misuse of heritage. After all, heritage-spectacle-and-science can now be established as the logo of the cultural heritage space of the 2020s.
This newsletter was once revealed as a part of the collection “Crossed Perspectives: Culture, Research and Society”, revealed with the beef up of the Common Delegation for Switch, Territories and Cultural Democracy of the Ministry of Tradition.
