Statues of the Apostles
Twelve statues of the Apostles and four statues representing the Evangelists adorned the base of Notre-Dame Cathedral’s spire. Each of the four corners has a row of three Apostles, standing one behind the other, staggered by height. In front of each group of statuary are smaller statues that symbolize the Four Evangelists: a bull for St. Luke, a lion for St. Mark, an eagle for St. John, and an angel for St. Matthew. Each grouping faces one of the four cardinal directions with all statues looking out over Paris, except for one. St. Thomas, the patron saint of architects, looks toward the spire, almost in contemplation.
Status
Status of the Statues of the Apostles
All 16 statues were spared from the fire on April 15, 2019, as they were removed from the spire for restoration just a few days before. Since 2019, the statues are being restored by experts at a workshop in Périgueux, France. The completed statues are currently housed on display at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine museum in Paris.
