Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The building located at 52 rue Jacob, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, dates from the mid-17th century. Originally, it consisted of three separate houses, which were later united into one set. This type of construction reflects the Parisian urban planning of the period, marked by the densification of the central districts and the emergence of private hotels or bourgeois housing with neat decors. Architectural changes were frequent to adapt buildings to the changing needs of their occupants.

Around 1840, the building underwent major modifications, typical of the 19th century, when Paris modernized its urban fabric under the influence of new social changes and aesthetic tastes. Despite these changes, the second floor retains a small cabinet with an exceptional painted ceiling. The latter, dated from the 17th century, presents a rich ornamental decoration: arabesques, cherubins, precious vases and animal saynetes on a golden background, characteristic of French baroque art.

The cabinet and its painted ceiling, located in the house between courtyard and garden, were classified as Historic Monument by order of 15 May 2012. This protection highlights a rare testimony of the decorative art of the Great Century, often altered or destroyed during subsequent renovations. The exact address, 52 rue Jacob, and its Insee code (75106) confirm its anchoring in the historic district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, known for its architectural and intellectual heritage.

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