Ever wondered why this church looks so different from the others? That’s because you’re standing in front of the remarkable u00c9glise Saint-Dominique. It is a gem of neo-Byzantine architecture right here in Paris. Let’s uncover its story.
u00c9glise Saint-Dominique stands proudly in the 14th arrondissement. The church is dedicated to Saint Dominique. It depends on the archdiocese of Paris. Construction started in 1913. But the First World War delayed its completion until 1921.
Georges Gaudibert designed u00c9glise Saint-Dominique. He used reinforced concrete. This was innovative for the time. The structure’s skeleton is filled with bricks and aggregate stones. This construction offers a unique blend of styles. It exemplifies architectural exploration in France during the 1910s and 1920s.
Notice the absence of a traditional bell tower. Originally, plans included a campanile. You can still see its base at the corner of the two streets. Two bells named Marie and Dominique sit at its foot. They were blessed in 1950 and 1951 respectively. They await the campanile that never came to be.
Inside u00c9glise Saint-Dominique, the walls are smoothly coated. A sculpted floral band and mosaics embellish it. Camille Boignard created these mosaics. He was an architecture professor. He taught decorative composition.
The panels in the Sainte Catherine de Sienne chapel are by Jeanne Simon. The organ dates back to 1904. The murals are later additions. The yellow tint results from a recent restoration.
The main nave features a square space. A cupola rises 26.5 meters high. It has a diameter of 12 meters. Two rows of windows illuminate the space. Vast tribunes supported by lowered arches line each side. The tribune above the entrance supports the organ. A small ambulatory surrounds the elevated choir. A large bronze crucifix stands in the nave. Its artist remains unknown.
Beneath the church, a crypt extends. It is lit by English courts. Hervu00e9 Montauffier recently oversaw its restoration.
The Chapelle de la Vierge extends lengthwise. It is on the left side of the church. Cardinal Lu00e9on Adolphe Amette wanted it to highlight Mary’s role. Above the altar, a gilded stone statue depicts Marie u00e0 l’Enfant. It has been here since 1921. Mosaics surround it. The Latin text translates to Come pick the roses of these mysteries and weave crowns for the Mother of beautiful love. Louis Barillet created the stained glass windows in 1941. They depict scenes from the Virgin’s life.
The bas-relief of the Annunciation dates to 1941. Claude Bouscau created it. He lived nearby.
The Stations of the Cross are mosaic panels. The Maumu00e9jean brothers created them. They also created the backdrop of the pulpit.
The pulpit features a reinforced concrete canopy. Mosaics by the Maumu00e9jean brothers decorate it. They illustrate Saint Dominique’s vision from The Golden Legend.
In the left chapel, Jeanne Simon painted Sainte Catherine de Sienne. The four panels depict her life. The panels evoke Catherine’s life. One panel represents Catherine’s childhood in Siena. Another shows Christ carrying his cross. A third panel depicts Jeanne Simon’s family. The fourth represents Catherine caring for a plague victim.
Maurice Rocher painted a fresco on the apse’s vault. It is titled Le Verbe et la Parole. The fresco depicts Christ resurrected. Saint John the Baptist preaches in the desert on the left. The Angel announces the Resurrection to the Holy Women. Saint Dominique, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and Saint Augustine are on the right.
The oldest decorative element is the tympanum. Marie-Cu00e9cile Schmitt designed it. It depicts Saint Dominique receiving the church. The priest kneeling is Pierre Riviu00e8re. He later became the Bishop of Monaco.
Andru00e9 Bourroux sculpted the eastern tympanum in 1946. It represents Saint Dominique as Louis Jouvet.
The u00c9glise Saint-Dominique stands as a testament to architectural innovation. It is a spiritual haven. Its art and history echo through these walls. Take a moment to appreciate the unique beauty.