The Dome of Galeries Lafayette celebrates its 100 th anniversary and offers the opportunity of a highly original exhibition at La Galerie des Galeries (the art galery at the 1st floor of the store). Following the creative path, we discover how this amazing dome made of glass and steel, in a perfect Art Nouveau style, created in 1912 by the architect Ferdinand Chanut and the master glassmaker Jacques Gruber, following a neobyzantine inspiration, helped the popularity of the building.
At the same time, was created by Louis Majorelle, another great master of l’Ecole de Nancy, the majestic staircase decorated with floral subjects (which no longer exists) and the ironwork balconies that give the building its so famous theatrical setting.

Galeries Lafayette each year attract 30 million visitors. In 2011, it has been recorded 38 million visitors in Paris … this is by far one of the most visited places in Paris !

Beyond shopping, this is a must see for any discoverer of the capital and the French elegance.

Galeries Lafayette wish to cultivate this image avant garde initiated by  the Dome and its revolutionary architecture of glass and steel at the beginning of the twentieth century. La Galerie des Galeries contributes largely presenting creations in the field of visual arts, fashion and design, focusing on highly original scenographies.

An exhibition to discover until 26 january.
www.galeriedesgaleries.com

Picture : The Castel Beranger, from Hector Guimard 

Art Nouveau was prominent in Europe between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (until the First World War).
In France, Belgium, Italy and Spain it was characterised by curved lines, sometimes referred to as whiplash. Architects were inspired by nature, particularly plant life
and furniture reflected the designs of the Louis XV style.
In Austria, a more linear style influenced art deco.

Where can you see examples of Art Nouveau in Paris?

Architecture

Despite there being few remaining examples of this type of architecture in Paris (particularly compared to Nancy), there are some magnificent specimens in the capital, mainly by the architects Hector Guimard and Jules Lavirotte.

By Hector Guimard :

• The underground entrances (Monceau, Dauphine, Abbesses, etc.)
• The Castel Béranger
  This is an exceptional investment property (divided into rental flats) from 1898 located at 14 rue Lafontaine in the 16^th arrondissement, underground: Jasmin. It is a fabulous example of a total piece of art, where the Art Nouveau style is used from floor to ceiling, including the door handles. With a bit of luck, you may manage to slip into the entrance to the building.
• The Art Nouveau synagogue, 10 rue Pavée, 4th arrondissement, in the Marais district, underground: Saint Paul

By Jules Lavirotte :

• The building at 23 avenue de Messine, 8th arrondissement, underground: Monceau (cf our Monceau-Ternes Artistic Itinerary   )
• The Ceramic hotel, 34 avenue de Wagram, 17th arrondissement, underground: Ternes  (cf our Monceau-Ternes Artistic Itinerary   )
• The building at 29 avenue Rapp, 7th arrondissement, RER (overground train) Pont de l’Alma

Also worth visiting :

•  The FNAC building (former Magasins Réunis), 26 avenue des Ternes, 17th arrondissement, underground: Ternes, with stained glass windows by Gruber, the famous master glassmaker from Nancy (major French Art Nouveau town)
• The building 134 rue de Courcelles, 17th arrondissement, underground : Ternes, from The architecte Theo Petit and the sculptor Binet
• The former Félix Potin shop, 140 rue de Rennes, 6th arrondissement, underground: Rennes
• The Notre Dame du Travail church, 36 rue Guilleminot, 14th arrondissement, underground: Pernety. Inside there is a steel structure from the Eiffel workshops.

Furniture and objets d’art

• The fine collection at the Orsay Museum in particular : Louis Majorelle furniture and glassware by Daum and Gallé, members of the famous Nancy school