In the aftermath of the revolutionary upheavals, the 19th century cultivated a romantic reverie imbued with medieval nostalgia, while simultaneously experiencing major technological advancements. It was during this period that significant collections of medieval objects were assembled. The century was enamoured with the Middle Ages, drawing inspiration from it through the production of replicas, pastiches, composite works, and forgeries. The exhibition presents a series of comparisons, juxtaposing authentic medieval objects with their 19th-century “echoes.”

The exhibition focuses on les arts précieux—precious or luxury arts—in their medieval sense: works of goldsmithing and enameling, ivory carvings, and sumptuous textiles. These art forms experienced technical revivals in the 19th century. Such cultural and artistic phenomena emerged as early as the 1820s–1830s and continued until the eve of World War I, spanning roughly a century. Collectors, workshops dedicated to creation and restoration, and even forgers played key roles in this movement, which developed alongside a rapidly growing art market—particularly in Paris, which at the time stood as the capital of the decorative arts.

On this occasion, the Fondation Gandur pour l’Art is lending two silver reliquary statuettes and an ivory carving representing Saint Andrew.