Le « Goût de la Justice » : la politique artistique de la Chancellerie (1800-1962)

Abstract

This article interrogates the existence of a specific artistic policy to the Ministry of Justice. The circuit of ordering or attributing works involves many actors: Fine Arts administration, architects, Keepers of the Seals. This diversity is not without problems in this policy translation. Despite the undeniable aesthetic successes, the difficulty of defining, and preserving throughout time, an iconography of Justice particular to the Chancellery action is problematic. Through works still seen at Place Vendôme and those now preserved elsewhere, the question of Justice’s taste is raised.

Keywords

• artistic policy
• ministry of Justice
• hôtel de Bourvallais
• chancellery
• public commission
• art and architecture