Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building, located at 12 rue Sédillot, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, is an iconic Art Nouveau building designed by architect Jules Lavirotte and completed in 1899. Originally commissioned for the Countess de Montessuy, it is distinguished by its curvilinear lines, its wrought iron balconies, and a decor full of foliage, masks and plant motifs. The façade, classified as a Historical Monument in 1975, incorporates blue ceramic elements and a dome on the main span, reflecting the typical exuberance of style.

Acquired by the Italian government on 6 May 1930, the building became the seat of the Italian House under the fascist regime, before building an Italian school after the Liberation. On 5 November 1949, the back of the building was returned to Italy, allowing the reopening of a school, now known as the Leonardo-da-Vinci Italian High School. The latter has a historic partnership with the French high school Chateaubriand in Rome, within the framework of the Franco-Italian Cultural Convention of 1949.

The building also illustrates the cultural ties between France and Italy in the 20th century, marked by disturbances during the Second World War. Its architecture, combining technical innovation and organic aesthetics, makes it a major testimony of Parisian Art Nouveau. The ironworks, signed Dondelinger, and the interior atmospheres (not detailed here) complete this artistic heritage.

Ranked for its facades and roofs, the building remains today the property of the Italian state, housing both administrative spaces, a college-lycée, and kindergartens and elementary schools in a second nearby building. Its history reflects the political tensions of the twentieth century, while celebrating a lasting cultural dialogue between the two countries.

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