4.2.13

Saint-Louis-d'Antin



What originally was built as a Capuchin convent around 1780-83, became a few years later – the Revolution - a school, renowned for a number of eminent teachers and pupils. It changed its name several times, but is since long known as the Lycée Condorcet. It’s very centrally located, between the Gare Saint Lazare and the department stores Printemps, Lafayette.

Here we can compare a map from 1790 (the first Paris map with exact measurements, in a perfect N/S direction) and the Google Earth views. One of the few things which haven’t changed is this building, and we can easily recognize it from this old gravure, when comparing with today.




The convent chapel was separated from the school and is now known as Saint Louis d’Antin. The church entrance is by the left gate.

I haven’t yet managed to get into the school building, but the church is of course open. Few people live around here, but as we are in a busy business and shopping district, it has a great number of visitors and offers several celebrations every day.

The organ was built by one of the most famous organ manufacturers, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, in 1858 and has hardly been changed since. 






I noted especially two boxes, which give the impression to have been there for long – one for “confessions”, one for “deniers”  - maybe a simultaneous act (?).  

14 comments:

Starman said...

Another great post by the master!

Thirtytwo degrees said...

I especially like the vibrancy of the colors in your photos...This is a beautifully made album.

Thérèse said...

Convents built around 1780 haven't been that lucky!
Great details like for the two boxes for contributions...:-)
Tu as l'oeil!
Ce n'est pas tres discret de regarder l'heure lorsqu'on est assis pendant une ceremonie, vue la place du cadran lorsqu'on n;a pas de montre soi-meme!

Virginia said...

I agree with Starman, another great post Peter. I think Mary and I were near there last week!
V

Studio at the Farm said...

What a beautiful building. Thank you for another good post, Peter!

Alain said...

Les troncs (c'est ainsi que l'on appelle les "boites" destinées à recevoir les offrandes)sont un peu passés de mode et rappellent surtout le "drôle de paroissien" de JP Mocky, puisque maintenant, on peut payer son "denier de l'église" par internet. Le montant "conseillé" est de 1% du revenu annuel, mais on bénéficie d'une réduction d'impot !
Les dons pour les "confesseurs" doivent servir à ceux-ci pour se remonter le moral après avoir entendu nos confessions.

hpy said...

JE te fais confiance pour entrer aussi dans l'école.

Cezar and Léia said...

Bonjour Peter!
Wonderful Church, I like the painting, and your first image is very beautiful.Great composition with adorable colors.Those boxes are interesting, I think there isn't this kind of box inside a Church in Brazil.
Have a great week,
hugs
Léia

Cergie said...

Le lycée Condorcet ça me dit quelque chose, c'est assez aisé d’accès depuis Cergy par la gare St Lazare pour être parfois fréquenté par des jeunes de chez nous poussés par leurs parents....
Si je me souviens bien, Sartre y enseigna...

Vagabonde said...

That church looks so familiar. I must have passed in front of it hundreds of times – it’s in my arrondissement – the 9th. It’s as you go up the street, (rue de Caumartin non?) from Le Printemps department store, to la rue St Lazare. I would usually go in that street to get something to eat as you go up, on the left. Or I would buy something quick at the Monoprix across the road. But you know, I never went inside the church. It looks quite nice. They cleaned it up too a while back – for years the walls were so black. I remember the street also before it was mainly for pedestrians, a long time ago. I also had several friends who attended le lycée Condorcet.

Years ago, there was a very good patisserie salon de thé next to the lycée – I don’t know if you went there then. It had the best cakes. My mum and I would go there in the afternoons often to have tea and cake. I know all those streets around there and can see them les yeux fermés!

Scheherazade said...

Beautiful photos. I love the two collection boxes.

claude said...

Encore une belle visite. La fresque de la nef sur fond ciel étoilé est magnifique.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I still remember this radiant dome with its vivid colors. I almost did not go in but with the intent never to pass a Paris church without entering, we were rewarded with the beauty of its architecture. I wish that we had heard that Cavaillé-Coll organ although I have read that there are seldom concerts.

Wonderful post and so thorough in detail as we have come to love and expect.

Bises,
Genie

Jeanie said...

Another lovely church, one I'm not sure I would have found otherwise! Thanks, Peter, for another good post!