One of the four cherubs carved and gilded which were at the crossing of the transept on the oculus of the keystone of Notre-Dame de Paris was found Tuesday, said Wednesday the head of communication of the cathedral André Finot. The work is in good condition, at least the head is intact, according to a journalist from the Tribune de l'art who had reported this find in the debris of the vault and the frame, which burned the 15th. April. If this cherub has been found, we can hope that the other three golden "putti" that were around the oculus can be removed from the debris yet to sort.
A robot has been in action for several weeks to help search and sort the heaps of rubble that are carried under a large white tent in front of the cathedral. The services of the Ministry of Culture (including the Historical Monuments Laboratory and the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research) and the police must examine them. These "putti" date from the restoration of the cathedral by Germain Boffrand in 1728-1729. The vault was deposited by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century for the construction of the spire and then reassembled while keeping the cherubs.
The consolidation phase continues
In the first month, two temporary umbrellas and safety nets were installed on the nave and choir. The north and south gables were consolidated and the statues above were removed. All the high stained glass windows were also deposited. The paintings and other works of the cathedral have been secured. Only the two paintings of the northern transept (Guido Reni and Laurent de La Hyre) have not yet been evacuated because the vault is not yet completely secure. The consolidation phase continues. Workers working on the various sites of the site - up to 130 people today - must wear masks inside the building because of the health hazards associated with the high concentration of lead.