Five years have passed since the devastating fire that ravaged Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, leaving many wondering about its future. However, the iconic landmark is now on the path to recovery, with carpenters and artisans working tirelessly to restore it to its former glory.
The Mays, a series of 13 large oil works painted by the best artists in France between 1630 and 1707, were removed from Notre Dame's side chapels undamaged. These paintings earned their name from an annual competition held by the Goldsmith's Guild in Paris to present paintings to the virgin statue at Notre Dame. The Mays were intended to symbolise the supremacy of Catholic faith after French Wars of Religion and were displayed along nave pillars until French Revolution.
During French Revolution, many religious works including The Mays were dispersed and some returned to Notre Dame in 1802 but not along the nave pillars as before. Now, a new exhibition is the first time The Mays have been displayed in the same place for more than 160 years.
Meanwhile, American carpenter Hank Silver joined the team restoring Notre Dame's nave in Normandy, France. Carpenters from around the world are part of Carpenters Without Borders and are trained to carry out rebuilding work on historical structures. Silver and his colleagues had to recreate the deformations of the original cathedral for an accurate restoration.
Notre-Dame Cathedral has returned to its former splendour and is set to reopen in December. The cause of the fire at Notre-Dame is still undetermined, but it is believed to have been started accidentally.
The restoration work has been constant since 2019, except for a few weeks during the Covid crisis. All key challenges of the restoration had now been met, said Philippe Jost, president of the Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris public body. The rebuilding of the nave using wood from around 1000 trees specially selected from French forests was among the toughest tasks.
Some 250 companies and hundreds of craftsmen, architects, and other trade professionals have been involved in the restoration. The cathedral's organ, undamaged by the fire but covered in lead dust, has been fully cleaned. Natural light inside the cathedral is at its brightest in living memory after the cleanup.
The roofing over the nave, choir and spire are among jobs still to be completed by the summer. Starting in the autumn, outside work on Notre-Dame's grounds and entrance areas will begin.
France has just called for bids for the creation of modern stained glass for Notre-Dame, with deliveries expected in 2026.
