Jean Fouquet, The Right Hand of God Protecting the Faithful against the Demons. On left are prayers before Notre Dame Cathedral with the caption: “O God, incline unto my aid. O Lord help me.” Mid-15th Century, CCO -Metropolitan Museum of Art.

 

Following the recent disastrous fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is offering two occasions for the community to gather:

At The Met Cloisters, on Thursday, April 18, at 2 p.m., a bell in the Museum’s tower will toll for one minute, coinciding with the ringing of bells scheduled to take place across the UK, during which time visitors may observe a minute of silence.

At The Met Fifth Avenue, on Monday, April 22, at 4 p.m., an informal program will take place in the Medieval Sculpture Hall, where Met experts who are familiar with Notre-Dame Cathedral will speak briefly about its importance. On special display for this occasion will be a mid-15th-century manuscript by Jean Fouquet, The Right Hand of God Protecting the Faithful against the Demons, that depicts Notre-Dame. Also nearby will be The Met’s 12th-century  Head of King David—originally part of the rich sculptural decoration program of Notre-Dame, but decapitated during the French Revolution. Johan Barthold Jongkind’s The Pont Neuf (1849–50), in which the skyline is punctuated by the cathedral’s towers, will also be on view in European Paintings Gallery 812.

Speakers include:

Daniel Weiss, President and CEO, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Max Hollein, Director, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Barbara Drake Boehm, Paul and Jill Ruddock Senior Curator for The Met Cloisters

Lucretia Kargère, Conservator, The Met Cloisters

Nancy Wu, Senior Managing Educator, Public Programs, The Met Cloisters

 

These events are free with Museum admission.

Right after the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York read to reporters his email to Archbishop Michel Aupettit of Paris, “My brother, Michel, the people of New York unite with you and the citizens of Paris in sorrow over today’s devastating fire…Count on our love, prayers, support and solidarity. This Holy Week teaches us that, like Jesus, death brings life. Today’s dying, we trust, will bring rising. Fraternally, Timothy.” 

 

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