Bourse

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

Towards the middle of the 18th century, due to economic mutations and changes in financial practices, there was a displacement of the market towards the great cities. New exchanges were created, such as those of Berlin and Saint-Petersburg, to meet a market in full expansion. Paris alone, despite being one of the most important financial centres, did not yet possess a specific building. It would take Napoleon for the capital to finally have its temple of commerce. It was not until 1806 that Napoleon finally decided on its location, on the land of the convent of the daughters of Saint-Thomas. The Stock Exchange is the last work of the architect Brongniart, who had been a pupil of Boullée and a schoolfellow of Chalgrin. This monument, by the rigour of its conception, was at that time rightly considered as the most characteristic example of New architecture, in opposition to the school of Blondel. The first projects date from 1808. The location on which the Stock Exchange was built was bounded on the north by rue Feydeau, on the south by rue Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, and on the west by the theatre and Passage Feydeau. While respecting the topography of the places, Brongniart had regularized this square by creating new accesses. Perfectly integrated into the district, it was conceived to become an element of junction, an articulation in the road network. However, construction was little advanced at the death of Brongniart in 1813; it would be continued and completed by Eloi Labarre after 1826. Thus, begun in 1808, the Palais Brongniart was inaugurated after the fall of the Empire in 1826, but really completed a few years later. The six projects of Brongniart are known and studied, and particularly his proposal of the Greek temple, temple of money, which is retained. Yet, not all the provisions desired by the architect would be realized. The engravings of the time (1814) showed a monument surrounded on all four sides by a double row of trees. This development was not completely realized since only a double avenue running alongside the building was created and remained so until 1902, the time when the exchange was enlarged on each side by Cavel. The Corinthian order would be substituted for the Ionic order; the great relief by Chaudet would be replaced by a level of arcades; the floor of shops fitted out as offices. Above all, this temple would be given a double-slope roof from the outset, which the architect, fervent admirer of Antiquity and implementer of the theories of his master Boullée, would certainly not have imagined. The great monumental inscription of the façade would, fortunately, be realized. The completion of the work by Labarre also brought modifications to Brongniart's project regarding interior decoration and external arrangements. Indeed, the very monochrome interior decoration, imitating sculpted motifs, desired by Brongniart, would be replaced by paintings which take up and correct the compositions of the initial project: coffered ceiling with central skylight for the great hall, where the paintings by Meynier and Abel de Pujol represent the allegories of the cities of France, completed with a frieze of garlands where the different exchanges of Europe are represented. The hall of the commercial court, which became the meeting room of the stock exchange agents, would also be completed and decorated according to Labarre's project, the walls in five bays separated by Corinthian pilasters, the doors being surmounted by bas-reliefs by Caillouette and Bay; the vault is painted in grisailles by Vinchon and Blandel. In 1899, to conform to the extension of the stock market, an enlargement project was studied by Cavel; it was realized in 1903 by the architect, who gave the rectangle of the temple two wings, transforming it into a Greek cross. Clavel's contribution is of great interest for the history of pastiche in the years 1900. At the death of Clavel in 1905, Eustache, first inspector of works, succeeded him. Some restorations were carried out, including the completion of the cage of a new grand staircase. Everything was completed in 1905. Other projects by Bernier (1923) and by Bernier and Azema in 1930 were not executed. The City of Paris, owner of the palace, granted an emphyteutic lease to the Compagnie des agents de change. The successive additions to this building do not devalue it, as they testify to the evolution of style, and of the three projects which were executed there. This building of great historical and archaeological values is among the capital monuments of Paris and illustrates with brilliance neo-classical architecture.