Hear the powerful saga of the five-year reconstruction project to restore the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris from Michael Davis, PhD, professor emeritus of art history at Mount Holyoke College, at an Open VISIONS Forum: Espresso lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dolan School of Business Event Hall.
This presentation, titled “Medieval Bones to Today’s Inspiring Spires: The Dedication and Recovery of Notre Dame Cathedral," is the annual Department of History lectureship, offered in partnership with the Center for Catholic Studies, the Art History Department, and the Fairfield University Art Museum.
On April 15, 2019, a disastrous fire engulfed the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, causing extensive damage, including to the cathedral’s spire. This December, the cathedral reopened, celebrating the success of a comprehensive, historic five-year reconstruction project.
Patricia Behre, PhD, Fairfield University associate professor and chair of the History Department, followed news coverage of the fire and rebuilding closely. As a French historian, Dr. Behre was fascinated by the incredible details of the reconstruction, from the way spectrometry was used to assess every inch of damage to how artisans employed 13th-century techniques to hew beams by hand. As more aspects of the extensive renovation efforts surfaced, Dr. Behre became eager to have an expert discuss the project's unique complexities and historical significance with Fairfield University and community members alike.
“When the restoration project neared completion miraculously on schedule, I wanted to bring in an expert to talk about the cathedral's reconstruction, with an eye both to its history and this historical work. And everyone I contacted mentioned Michael Davis,” she said.
Dr. Davis, whose research focuses on French Gothic architecture, founded the Architectural Studies program at Mount Holyoke College, where he taught courses on the art of the Middle Ages, the arts of Islam, and modern architecture. Drawing on his expertise and involvement in the restoration project as a board member of the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris – the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization leading international fundraising efforts to restore and rebuild the cathedral – Dr. Davis will share intricate details of the medieval monument’s revival, including the multifaceted coordination and funding from thousands from around the world. Attendees will gain inimitable insight with the most up-to-date images while learning about the extraordinary renewal and preservation plans for the next 1,000 years.
