Above the altar of l'Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, or simply... La Madeleine.I have brought you here before to see this beautiful church on Rue Royal facing Place de la Concorde and the Seine from its elegant perch. If you missed it, the previous posts are here and here.
Bon dimanche
You have captured this interior dome beautifully Genie !! I love the shades of light. Just perfect ~Dianne~
ReplyDeleteI need to keep this name for a next visit to Paris... This is so rich in architecture and details, I had to look also on the older posts... Thanks for sharing! By the way, your header picture is also amazing!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Cezar
I agree with Cezar and Léia that your picture is "rich in architecture and details."
ReplyDeleteThe figures just below the dome, which I suspect completely encircle that portion of the structure, have something of the feel of an Iconostasis in an Orthodox church. An interesting adaptation, perhaps, of a Byzantine tradition.
Genie, Your photo captured the rich layers of the dome perfectly! I love the contrast of the deeply religious symbolism of the lower mural (Christ as the central focus and, Madeleine on his right) with the imperial motif of the upper dome. All the rich, gold trim is in perfect focus and just glows! Un debut divine a mon dimanche, merci beaucoup!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites churches in Paris now. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful photos. This domeis exquisite.
ReplyDeleteBises,
V
Fantastic ceiling, Genie! Love those golden tones.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty is awe inspiring! I cannot imagine how many weeks/years the painter or painters would have to stay up there on scaffolding to do that job!
ReplyDeletewhat a stunning frieze......and the dome seems enormous!
ReplyDeleteDianne -- Many thanks as I have trouble getting a shot that meets my perfectionist expectations (and this one is not quite there).
ReplyDeleteCezar -- Merci, and let me know when you go as there is much more to know than what I have been able to find on the internet. Most of the information about the sculpture (my first post) talks about the "two angels" and there are THREE! It is an amazing place with incredible music and concerts.
Bear -- The lower row of figures are mosaic designed by the painter Charles-Joseph Lameire, and it was created between 1888 and 1893 with glass tiles from Sèvres. The half dome is covered with a fresco by Jules-Claude Ziegler, "The History of Christianity" was commissioned by Napoleon and features him prominently... You are correct ... "neo-Byzantine" Merci, Bear.
Marie -- Many thanks... It would be easy to sit and gaze at the demi-dome for hours with a list of all the historical characters.
Virginia -- So glad that you went with us to the concert en juin... just magical!
JM -- My camera loved the golden tones throughout the church.
Wow -- The mosaic (bottom row) took five years to install and I am not sure about the demi-dome.
Amanda -- I believe that there are three or four domes in the church and this one is a demi-dome. Most of the churches I have seen in Paris have full domes rather than demi-domes but I am still researching ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow—it looks like it's lit from within!
ReplyDeleteBon dimanche --
Marvelously rich! Wonderful. Thanks for taking us back there.
ReplyDeleteAlexa -- Merci, and the cove lighting just at the foot of the mosais is perfect illumination.
ReplyDeleteJack -- Merci, and we will probably go there again as I have a few more things to show you.
That is so amazing. The lighting gives it such a wonderful warmth.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe someone (French) once told me the Madeleine interior is boring?
ReplyDeleteRandy -- Merci... it does seem to glow.
ReplyDeleteStarman -- That is hard to imagine with all the beauty of the interior. I do remember that the exterior was almost black prior to the refurbishing several years ago.
Superbement photographié, cet autel... C'est marrant, mais je ne me souvenais pas de cette représentation de Napoléon, au-dessus... C'est aussi pour cela que j'aime venir sur ton blog : j'époussette mes souvenirs... :D
ReplyDelete'Tsuki -- Tu es marrante! "époussette mes souvenirs"...C'est un nouveau mot ou nouveau contexte pour moi.
ReplyDeleteNapoleon, who may not be seen in the photo I posted, is right in the center of the mural on a horse. I am not sure how he figures in l'Histoire du christianisme, but here is a link with a photo of the full demi-dome:
http://www.eglise-lamadeleine.com/peinture-interieur
Merci...j'aime les mots français...