A lecture to open the season of the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris

The president of the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris (SAND) and its board open their new season of lectures at IESA. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 18:30, in the René-Dumont amphitheater, at 16 rue Claude-Bernard (Paris 5th).

The theme of this first session is "Notre-Dame’s tapestries, from the 17th to the 21st century." It invites us to look at the cathedral from a lesser-known angle: that of the art textiles that have adorned, and will once again adorn, its walls.

Founded in 1939, the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame counted among its founders the medievalist Marcel Aubert and Cardinal Verdier. It organizes lectures for its members and a wider public on the history and current affairs of the cathedral. This cycle is largely programmed at IESA. It confirms the school’s place as a venue for transmission and dialogue around heritage. notredamedeparisnotredamedeparis

Emmanuel Pénicaut, a specialist in national collections

The lecture is given by Emmanuel Pénicaut, chief curator of heritage and director of the collections of the Mobilier national.

The Mobilier national is an institution that inherited the Garde-Meuble royal. It preserves, restores, and enriches the State’s collections of furniture, textiles, and art objects. It also oversees the national tapestry manufactories. Emmanuel Pénicaut therefore knows both the history of the works and the reality of how they are made, from yesterday to today.

Four centuries of tapestries for Notre-Dame de Paris

In the 17th century: the Life of the Virgin tapestry set

The itinerary begins in 1638. That year, Canon Michel Le Masle commissioned a set of tapestries devoted to the Life of the Virgin, intended to adorn the cathedral.

This commission is part of the great boom of Parisian tapestry in the 17th century. It also reflects the Notre-Dame chapter’s desire to give the building a decor worthy of its spiritual and symbolic dimension. The lecture will go back over the genesis of this ensemble, its patrons, and its fate over the centuries.

From the 18th to the 20th century: a history of displacements and rediscoveries

Tapestries are fragile and mobile works. Their history follows that of the cathedral: changing tastes, political upheavals, successive restorations.

Emmanuel Pénicaut will shed light on how these textiles were used, moved, preserved, or rediscovered. He will show how they illuminate the relationships between art, liturgy, and heritage.

In the 21st century: a contemporary commission after the fire

The lecture ends with a project of today. After the 2019 fire, the Mobilier national, together with the Archdiocese of Paris, the rector-archpriest of the cathedral, and the association Revoir Notre-Dame de Paris, commissioned seven new tapestries for the north chapels of the building. artnewspaper

The cartoons have been entrusted to two internationally renowned contemporary artists. The first, Miquel Barceló, was born in 1957 and works with light, landscape, and unexpected materials such as volcanic ash. The second, Michael Armitage, was born in 1984 in Nairobi and combines Kenyan motifs and textures with contemporary compositions. epochtimesepochtimes

The tapestries are woven under the responsibility of the Mobilier national by the Gobelins and Beauvais manufactories, as well as in Aubusson. This project illustrates the vitality of centuries-old expertise, placed at the service of contemporary creation and the sacred. lejourduseigneur

Why attend this lecture?

For students

This meeting offers concrete insight into several dimensions of cultural careers:

  • art history;
  • heritage conservation;
  • how public institutions work;
  • contemporary art commissions.

It is also an opportunity to hear a head of national collections talk about their profession and the current challenges facing their institution.

For professionals and enthusiasts

Curators, restorers, mediators, art market players, and informed enthusiasts will find a rare synthesis here. It links four centuries of textile history to one of the most closely watched heritage projects in the world.

Practical Information

  • Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
  • Time: 18:30
  • Place: IESA, René-Dumont amphitheater, 16 rue Claude-Bernard, 75005 Paris
  • Organization: Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris (SAND)
  • Speaker: Emmanuel Pénicaut, chief curator of heritage, director of the collections of the Mobilier national

In brief: frequently asked questions

Who is organizing the lecture?

The Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris (SAND), hosted by IESA.

What is the lecture about?

Of the history of the tapestries intended for Notre-Dame de Paris. It begins with the Life of the Virgin tapestry set (1638) and ends with the contemporary tapestries of Miquel Barceló and Michael Armitage.

Where does it take place?

At IESA, in the René-Dumont amphitheater, at 16 rue Claude-Bernard, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.

Conclusion

From Canon Le Masle’s commission in 1638 to the cartoons of Miquel Barceló and Michael Armitage, the tapestries of Notre-Dame tell a story of continuity. Over the centuries, the cathedral has never ceased to call for creation.

By opening its season at IESA, the Society of Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris invites students, professionals, and enthusiasts to discover this textile history with one of its best experts. See you on October 1 at 18:30, in the René-Dumont amphitheater.