Reims Cathedral, where Fujita was baptized as a Catholic
Reims is a city located about 130 km northeast of Paris and can be reached in just 45 minutes by TGV (high-speed train).
Reims is a medium-sized city with a population of approximately 180,000 , but is home to a concentration of historical architecture and cultural facilities, making it a popular tourist destination. Also known as the "City of Coronations" ( Cité des Sacres ), it boasts a history of being the site of the coronation ceremonies of French kings since the Middle Ages.
2021GR_282_000_013-Vue du clocher-©AD Ville de Reims
The history of Reims began at the end of the 5th century, when Clovis I , King of the Franks, was baptized by Saint Remi. This baptism made Clovis a Christian and helped unify the Frankish kingdom. From the Middle Ages onwards, Reims Cathedral was used as the site of the coronation ceremonies for French kings, with approximately 25 kings receiving their crowns here between the 13th and 19th centuries. Coronation ceremonies symbolized the authority and religious legitimacy of the king, and Reims flourished as the central stage of French monarchy.
During World War I, the city of Reims and the cathedral were subjected to heavy bombing, but thanks to post-war restoration, the majesty of the historic architecture and the beauty of the cityscape remain to this day.
Cathédrale_GRAND REIMS PANO 360_1-4©Ville de Reims
Cathédrale PASCUAL-Cathédrale
Towering over the center of the city, Reims Cathedral (Notre Dame Cathedral) is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture built in the 13th century. Its 38m -high façade is lined with intricate carvings and impressive, gorgeous stained glass. In the 20th century, stained glass by Chagall was added, and the long history of its construction coexists with the breath of modern art. It took approximately 200 years to build, and is said to be the perfect example of northern French Gothic architecture.
2023GR_115_002_044-Cathédrale de Reims-©AD Grand Reims
In 1959 , Tsuguharu Foujita and his wife Kimiyo were baptized into the Catholic Church in this majestic cathedral, beginning a new life as "Léonard Foujita." The baptism was held with the cooperation of local stakeholders, including prestigious Champagne houses Maison Mumm and Taittinger, and was observed by 15 television stations and newspaper reporters from around the world. Stepping inside the cathedral, one is greeted by a sacred and solemn atmosphere, conveying to this day the tranquility of prayer that Foujita felt.
Mr. and Mrs. Fujita being baptized at Reims Cathedral (Photo: Sipa press ).
On the day of his baptism, Fujita dedicated a painting to the cathedral. This work, "Madonna and Child," will be on display in this exhibition. This work, depicting the Virgin and Child with gentle and calm expressions and four adorable angels, was the first to be signed "Léonard Foujita," and became a symbol of the beginning of a new creative journey in both name and reality.
Image of the work: Madonna and Child, 1959 , Ink, ink (wash), gold leaf, oil on canvas, Reims Cathedral, Deposited at the Reims Museum of Fine Arts. Madonna and Child (1959), Incre, lavis d'encre, feuille d'or and huile sur toile Don de Léonard Foujita à la Cathédrale de Reims en 1959 Dépôt de l ' association diocésaine de Reims, Reims, Musée des Beaux-Arts / photo: Corentin Le Goff