The 28 monumental statues of the kings of Judah overlooking the west façade of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris were deposited and destroyed during the French Revolution.
Missing until 1977, 21 of them (plus other fragments) were discovered during works in the courtyard of a private town house in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.
This is one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century in Paris. It provides a considerable contribution to our understanding of Parisian sculpture in the first half of the 13th century.
The careful execution of the features of these ancestors of the Virgin is especially remarkable because, due to the height at which they were places, the details were not visible. A delicate polychrome, the key remains of which are still visible, further enhances these features.
Inventory no.: Cl. 22988, Cl. 22996, Cl. 22997, Cl. 23002
Height: Cl. 22988: 71 cm; Cl. 22996: 65 cm; Cl. 22997: 65 cm; Cl. 23002: 41 cm
Width: Cl. 22988: 44 cm; Cl. 22996: 41 cm; Cl. 22997: 40 cm; Cl. 23002: 32 cm
Depth: Cl. 22988: 44 cm; Cl. 22996: 41 cm; Cl. 22997: 40 cm; Cl. 23002: 35 cm
Period: 2nd quarter of the 13th century
En raison des Jeux Olympiques de Paris, le musée sera entièrement fermé les vendredi 26 et samedi 27 juillet 2024. Des ajustements horaires pourraient intervenir sur toute la durée de la compétition. Nous nous excusons pour la gêne occasionnée.
Due to the Paris Olympic Games, the museum will be completely closed on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July 2024. Schedule adjustments may be made throughout the competition. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Debido a los Juegos Olímpicos de París, el museo permanecerá completamente cerrado el viernes 26 y el sábado 27 de julio de 2024. Es posible que se realicen ajustes horarios a lo largo de la competición. Rogamos disculpen las molestias ocasionadas.