Chapelle Foujita (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix)

Church in Reims

Reims Chapelle Notre-Dame De La Paix Foujita — CC BY-SA 4.0 / Aimelaime

The Japanese artist associated with the Ecole de Paris, Tsuguharu Foujita, found profound inspiration during a visit to the Basilique Saint-Rémi, leading him to embrace Christianity. His formal conversion took place on October 14, 1959, at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, and he adopted the name Léonard upon baptism.

In 1965, driven by an unwavering artistic vision, Leonard Foujita realized a remarkable endeavour by constructing his very own chapel in Reims. The Chapelle Foujita emerged as a testament to his creative ingenuity, with every facet meticulously conceived by Foujita himself. He meticulously oversaw architectural blueprints, conceived designs for ironwork and stained-glass windows, and then personally painted the frescoes that grace the chapel’s choir.

Foujita’s preference for the Romanesque architectural style for the chapel was twofold: it echoed the aesthetic of the Saint-Rémi Basilica and its unpretentious form provided an ideal canvas for showcasing his artistic expression. Within every scene of his monumental opus adorning the chapel, Foujita’s profound spiritual sensibility radiates with compelling brilliance.

The Chapelle Foujita (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Reims!

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