Église-notre-dame-du-travail may not be the most impressive church in Paris on the outside, but it most certainly has some of the most particular interiors, which also tells alot about its origins and purpose.
The church was buildt between 1899 and 1901 replacing the earlier Notre Dame de Plaisance by architect Jules Astruc.
One cannot view the uncovered ironwork construction without giving a thought to the architectural movement associated withGustave Eiffel. Allthough the church is of a much later date, it was indeed intended to use for the workers at the univeral exhitbitons, hence its name.
The church's bell is a souvenir from the siege of Sebastopol that was given to the residents of Plaisance, then situated on the edge of Paris, by Napolen III.
Allthough the decorations are simple and somber suitable for the spirit of the workers, they evoke a feeling of serenity and piety, some might say even more so than some of the more grandiose pieces of the past that the city houses.
The church holds a number of works of art both of modern and classical kind. The above is one of the most touching pieces made by Michel Serraz and introduced in 1990. It displays a couple of lovers being brought forth by the divine in the shape of a hand. While the sculpture is made to suggest movement, the gesture also protects the two humans. It's a work whose simplicity, but profound message goes very well with the entire church and its history.
this is amazing!
RépondreSupprimerSuch an interesting compromise between the old and the new~