Dome

Interior, ribbed vaults spring from top of arch; Toulouse's ecclesiastical buildings suffered the most damage during the French Revolution from 1789, indicating its religious importance under the ancien régime. Alexandre-Louis-Charles-André Du Mège was instrumental in saving medieval sculpture from various buildings that became the basis of the Musée des Augustins, the convent itself being relatively undamaged. On 27th August 1795, the Augustine convent became the Muséum Provisoire du Midi de la République and solemnly opened its doors to the public. The collection consisted of works confiscated during the revolution. The ensemble of these works is presented in the sumptuous setting of the church and the chapter houses of the old convent. They are also displayed in a wing specially built at the end of the 19th century by Denis Darcy, based on the drawings of the architect Viollet-Le-Duc. Source: Musée des Augustins [website]; http://www.augustins.org/en (accessed 5/16/2011)