- The “Mays” of Notre-Dame
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- Saint Peter Healing the Sick with His Shadow
- The Conversion of saint Paul
- The Centurion Cornelius at the Feet of Saint Peter
- The Preaching of Saint Peter in Jerusalem
- The Crucifixion of Saint Peter
- The Crucifixion of Saint Andrew
- The Stoning of Saint Stephen
- The Predictions of the prophet Agabus to Saint Paul
- The Visitation
- Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fountain of Wisdom
At Notre-Dame, the stained glass windows reflect the medieval art’s taste for color. In the Middle Ages, paintings adorned the portals and the rood screen around the choir. However, due to weathering, these have entirely disappeared from the exterior of the building. The cathedral does not possess any paintings from the Middle Ages. At that time, religious painting primarily existed in the form of icons. Due to their small sizes, these precious painted objects were easily transportable. Paintings also decorated chests and tabernacles.
From the 13th century onwards, many families and trade guilds expressed their devotion to Mary by commissioning chapel decorations. In the 16th century, the goldsmiths’ guild began the tradition of offering a painting to Notre-Dame every May 1st. This tradition evolved in the 17th century into large paintings known as “the Mays of Notre-Dame.”
In the early 18th century, the guild ceased their annual offerings. Simultaneously, the cathedral’s choir underwent significant renovations. To decorate this new choir, the best painters of the time created eight large paintings illustrating the Life of the Virgin, of which only “The Visitation” by Jean Jouvenet remains in place.
Finally, a painting depicting Saint Thomas Aquinas recalls the importance this Dominican had in Paris in the 12th century.
