Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Michel-de-Picpus school, located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, was built between 1929 and 1932. This monument of the 2nd quarter of the 20th century is distinguished by its architecture and interior decoration, notably that of its chapel, entrusted to twelve artists of the Sacred Art Workshops under the direction of Henri de Maistre. The wall paintings, made between 1933 and 1934, bear the signatures of Charles Plessard and Henri de Maistre himself, reflecting the influence of modern religious art of the time.

The chapel also features twelve glass windows, created between 1935 and 1936 by the workshops of the master glassmaker Paul Rault in Rennes. These stained glass windows, illustrating the twelve months of the year and their liturgical feasts, are designed from cardboards drawn by artists of the Sacred Art Workshops, including Maurice Denis, a major figure in the nabi movement. The ensemble, classified as Historical Monument in 1994 (inscription of the chapel), bears witness to the collaboration between painters, glassmakers and architects for a place dedicated to education and spirituality.

In 1980, the chapel underwent a redevelopment, however preserving most of its original decoration. Today, the school remains a remarkable example of 20th century sacred art in Île-de-France, combining teaching and artistic heritage. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory a priori (note 6/10), and its official address, 41 boulevard de Picpus, makes it a point of interest in the Parisian landscape.

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