Eglise de la Madeleine (Paris, France)

The "Eglise de la Madeleine" is a heavy Napoleonic structure of the classical temple model, which was built for the emperor as yet another monument to the victory of his army.

Following many vicissitudes and changes of plan, the present building is now a windowless edifice with a Greek temple facade of Corinthian columns 20 metres high. Work on the church was begun in I764.

However, following the death of the architect in 1777, a new scheme was considered, and a Greek cross building was begun. Well before its completion, the revolutionary government dreamed up a more rational use for the building in progress. Napoleon decided on a Temple of Glory dedicated to the Great Army, and in 1806 commissioned Barthelemy Vignon to build it. After the erection of the colonnades, Louis XVIII was restored to power in 1814, who ordered that the temple should become a church.


Last update 2006 Editorial Team Classictic.com