Polychrome by Jan Matejko
- Subject
- Malarstwo ścienne
- Contributor
- m.in. Antoni Gramatyka, Edward Lepszy, Stanisław Bańkiewicz, Józef Mehoffer, Stanisław Wyspiański
- Style
- -
- Date
- 1889-1890
- Type
- Polichromia
- Material and technique
- Tynk, pobiała, farba/Malarstwo ścienne – technika klejowa, złocenie
- Size
- -
- Signatures and inscriptions
- -
- Identity number
- -
- Department
- -
- Links/analogies
- -
- Owner
- Bazylika Mariacka w Krakowie
- Copyright
- Bazylika Mariacka w Krakowie
- Location
- Nawa główna
- Description
- The breathtaking 'angel-star' polychrome (filling not only the entire presbytery, but also all three naves of the church), designed by Jan Matejko, is extremely impressive. The interior of St Mary's Church was originally covered with a Gothic polychrome by Master Nicholas (circa 1397), fragments of which were uncovered during a restoration at the end of the 19th century. As styles changed, it was replaced by successive ones: a late Renaissance one (1585), a Baroque one by Andrzej Radwański (1753-54), and finally a polychrome designed by Jan Matejko (1889-90). The cartoons he prepared can now be admired in the Jan Matejko Museum. Matejko composed the original work, which harmonises with Wit Stwosz's Great Altar and the Gothic stained glass windows. The decoration consists of figural, heraldic and ornamental parts. Many of his pupils, later well-known and prominent painters, collaborated with the master on the polychrome, including: Antoni Gramatyka, Edward Lepszy, Stanisław Bańkiewicz, Józef Mehoffer, Stanisław Wyspiański. The technical drawings were made by Tomasz Lisiewicz, and the gilding work is the work of Michał Stojakowski. The Matejko polychrome, underwent extensive restoration between 1993 and 1999.
