Polychrome by Jan Matejko
- Subject
- Malarstwo ścienne
- Contributor
- m.in. Antoni Gramatyka, Edward Lepszy, Stanisław Bańkiewicz, Józef Mehoffer, Stanisław Wyspiański
- Date
- 1889-1890
- Type
- Polichromia
- Material and technique
- Farba na pobiałowanym tynku/Malarstwo ścienne – technika klejowa, złocenie
- Size
- Brak danych
- Signatures and inscriptions
- -
- Identity number
- -
- Department
- -
- Links/analogies
- -
- Owner
- Bazylika Mariacka w Krakowie
- Copyright
- Bazylika Mariacka w Krakowie
- Location
- Prezbiterium
- 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. The vault keys designed by Matejko feature the monogram of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Odrowąż coat of arms of Bishop Iwona - the founder of the first St Mary's Church, the Piast eagle and the coat of arms of the city of Krakow. The main motif in the presbytery are figures of angels with musical instruments and banners bearing the text of the Litany of Loretto. Matejko also used floral, subject and figural motifs, taken from the Polish early Renaissance, but in his own free interpretation of both line and colour. 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.
