Église Notre Dame de l'Assomption, Metz
Encyclopedia
Notre-Dame de l'Assomption is a church situated on the Rue de la Chevre, formerly the Rue de la Cheuve, in the city of Metz
in Lorraine
, France
. Administratively it is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz.
columns - is heavily influenced by the architecture of a Jesuit novitiate building in Paris
, and its most significant artworks were inspired by Nicolas Poussin
, whose first major paintings were also for the Jesuits.
The confessionals are from the 18th century. Statues include some by Molknecht (1830). The stained glass windows are by Laurent-Charles Maréchal and Louis-Napoléon Gugnon(1840). Large paintings, both framed and mural, line the walls and are of unknown origin.
Construction work was interrupted in 1653, continued in 1735 and completed in 1739. The complex ceased to function only when the Jesuit order was suppressed in 1762, accused by the French parliament of teaching immorality.
In 1744 the church was visited by Marie Leszczynska, queen of France, and the dauphin Louis, for a ceremony of thanks for the recovery of king Louis XV, who had fallen ill in Metz. In the guise of a panegyric to Saint Louis
, the priest bestowed on the king the title of "Louis Well-Beloved" (Louis le Bien Aimé), under which name he was known thereafter.
, the revolutionary authorities dechristianised France
and nationalised all church property. The former church of Notre Dame de Metz became the central meeting place for the city's Jacobin club
. After the national assembly banned the clubs in 1795, it became Metz's Temple of Reason
(Temple Decadaire).
gave the building back to the Roman Catholic church.
Today the church is a place of Marian devotion
and is the church of the city's artists.
Its Cavaillé-Coll
organ was installed by Charles-Marie Widor, and has been played by some of the leading organists in France, including Marcel Dupré, Jean Langlais, Maurice Duruflé, and Marie-Claire Alain.
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Administratively it is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz.
Architecture and Artworks
It is one of the largest examples of a church which is unmistakably Jesuit in character. Its architecture - notably its two-storeyed facade with DoricDoric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
columns - is heavily influenced by the architecture of a Jesuit novitiate building in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and its most significant artworks were inspired by Nicolas Poussin
Nicolas Poussin
Nicolas Poussin was a French painter in the classical style. His work predominantly features clarity, logic, and order, and favors line over color. His work serves as an alternative to the dominant Baroque style of the 17th century...
, whose first major paintings were also for the Jesuits.
The confessionals are from the 18th century. Statues include some by Molknecht (1830). The stained glass windows are by Laurent-Charles Maréchal and Louis-Napoléon Gugnon(1840). Large paintings, both framed and mural, line the walls and are of unknown origin.
History before the Revolution
Originally a Calvinist temple built in 1576, the church was closed down shortly after construction and in 1642 was given to the Jesuits by Louis XIII. Known by Protestants as the "Crêve-Cœur" (Broken Heart), it became an important part of the complex which included a religious college and was the Jesuits' main residence in Lorraine.Construction work was interrupted in 1653, continued in 1735 and completed in 1739. The complex ceased to function only when the Jesuit order was suppressed in 1762, accused by the French parliament of teaching immorality.
In 1744 the church was visited by Marie Leszczynska, queen of France, and the dauphin Louis, for a ceremony of thanks for the recovery of king Louis XV, who had fallen ill in Metz. In the guise of a panegyric to Saint Louis
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
, the priest bestowed on the king the title of "Louis Well-Beloved" (Louis le Bien Aimé), under which name he was known thereafter.
Period of the Revolution
During the RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the revolutionary authorities dechristianised France
Dechristianisation of France during the French Revolution
The dechristianisation of France during the French Revolution is a conventional description of the results of a number of separate policies, conducted by various governments of France between the start of the French Revolution in 1789 and the Concordat of 1801, forming the basis of the later and...
and nationalised all church property. The former church of Notre Dame de Metz became the central meeting place for the city's Jacobin club
Jacobin Club
The Jacobin Club was the most famous and influential political club in the development of the French Revolution, so-named because of the Dominican convent where they met, located in the Rue St. Jacques , Paris. The club originated as the Club Benthorn, formed at Versailles from a group of Breton...
. After the national assembly banned the clubs in 1795, it became Metz's Temple of Reason
Temple of Reason
The Temple of Reason was, during the French Revolution, a temple for a new belief system created to replace Christianity: the Cult of Reason, which were based on the ideals of atheism and humanocentrism...
(Temple Decadaire).
From the First Empire to Today
In 1803 the government of the First EmpireFirst French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
gave the building back to the Roman Catholic church.
Today the church is a place of Marian devotion
Marian devotions
A Marian devotion is a gift of oneself, or one's activities to the Virgin Mary. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to, or venerate her; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts...
and is the church of the city's artists.
Its Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll was a French organ builder. He is considered by many to be the greatest organ builder of the 19th century because he combined both science and art to make his instruments...
organ was installed by Charles-Marie Widor, and has been played by some of the leading organists in France, including Marcel Dupré, Jean Langlais, Maurice Duruflé, and Marie-Claire Alain.