Rediscovering the sculptures
The facades were part of phase two of the restoration work. This began in 2005 after the more urgent work — the consolidation of the foundations, the repair of the metal frame of the glass roof, other roof work and Récipon's quadrigas — had been completed.
Sculpture in the colonnade on avenue Winston-Churchill. © Coll. Grand Palais, cliché François
Dust, pollution and wear had taken such a toll that a passer-by would no longer notice the wealth of architectural and ornamental curiosities at the Grand Palais.
This was to forget the importance of the ornaments in the minds of the building's original designers. Alfred Picard, the man in charge of the 1900 Universal Exhibition, felt that the success of this detail would be of capital importance in the success of the Exhibition, and the architects had commissioned some fifty sculptors to make statues, polychrome friezes, ornaments and monumental groups.
Phase two was therefore about restoring their former glory. As from June 2005, the work focused on the facades and ornamentation of the Grand Palais. The stucco caisson ceilings were stripped and whitewashed. The glazed metal doors decorated with iron and bronze were repaired. The sculptures, representing a total of over one thousand features, including cartouches, medallions, bas-reliefs, and capitals were cleaned, stripped, rejointed, and refitted into place. The stone sculptures were repaired and treated against moss, algae and graffiti. The pedestals were coated with lead. The result shows the considerable achievement of the sculptors in 1900.
This was to forget the importance of the ornaments in the minds of the building's original designers. Alfred Picard, the man in charge of the 1900 Universal Exhibition, felt that the success of this detail would be of capital importance in the success of the Exhibition, and the architects had commissioned some fifty sculptors to make statues, polychrome friezes, ornaments and monumental groups.
Phase two was therefore about restoring their former glory. As from June 2005, the work focused on the facades and ornamentation of the Grand Palais. The stucco caisson ceilings were stripped and whitewashed. The glazed metal doors decorated with iron and bronze were repaired. The sculptures, representing a total of over one thousand features, including cartouches, medallions, bas-reliefs, and capitals were cleaned, stripped, rejointed, and refitted into place. The stone sculptures were repaired and treated against moss, algae and graffiti. The pedestals were coated with lead. The result shows the considerable achievement of the sculptors in 1900.
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