Petit Palais - Salle des Icônes

“Comprising post-Byzantine and Russian icons from Roger Cabal’s bequest, this remarkable collection offers a broad overview of the different schools that developed after the fall of the Byzantine Empire and reflects one of the most important aspects of religious art.” This new space, dedicated to the Petit Palais’s icon collection, places them in their cultural and artistic context and highlights their richness and quality through large, custom-made display cases. The entrance gallery features two display cases and graphic compositions that announce the icon room and introduce the exhibition. On either side, the two entrances are illuminated and extended by video and sound projections that invite visitors to enter and discover the exhibition. The staging offers a panoramic view of the collection. Three sections of wall display cases present masterpieces from the Greek, Cretan, and Russian schools. The composition is punctuated by vertical panels that both conceal the structures, hinges, and locks of the display cases and serve as a support for mediation. The last section of wall-mounted display cases, dedicated to icons, “objects of worship” and “Mother of God,” features presentation lecterns that allow for easy variation in the hanging of the works and offer greater density of works. Byzantine art objects and gold coins are displayed in the center of the space, and an Ethiopian cross displayed on a stand in a tall display case completes the ensemble. The multimedia table, accompanied by educational materials illustrating icon techniques, allows visitors to consult detailed labels for all the works and familiarize themselves with icon techniques