Fancy opera houses like the Palais Garnier were designed for more than just watching a performance. The open balconies and winding staircases were meant to encourage people-watching, especially among the upper class. Commissioned by Napoleon III as part of his grand, transformative renovation of Paris, the Palais Garnier first opened on this day in 1875. Immediately upon opening its doors, it became the place to see and be seen—and to be surrounded by opulence. The domed ceiling shown here was painted by Marc Chagall in 1964, covering the original ceiling paintings by artist Jules Lenepveu. Chagall’s colorful, dreamlike work stretches nearly 2,600 square feet and depicts scenes from operas by 14 different composers, including Beethoven and Debussy.
Art abounds at the Palais Garnier
Today in History
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Boxing Day
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Monet still makes an impression
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It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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Did it see its shadow?
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20 years later
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Glendurgan Garden hedge maze is 186 years old
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International Day of the World s Indigenous Peoples
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Short-eared owl
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Remembering the Velvet Revolution
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Happy Boxing Day!
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Construction workers resting above Manhattan
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The Crown of the Continent
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‘The mountains are calling’
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Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico
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Red deer stag in Glen Affric, Scottish Highlands
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Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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Ready, set, read
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The Cutty Sark turns 150
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Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships