Polichromie w pałacu Pod Krzysztofory – uwagi wstępne

Abstract

POLYCHROME DECORATIONS AT KRZYSZTOFORY PALACE – PRELIMINARY REMARKS

The paper discusses wall paintings uncovered in five  rooms on the first and the second floor in the west wing  of Krzysztofory Palace. The polychromes are illusionistic  decorations representing architectural compositions in the  type of panoramic loggia and architectural board compositions.  They feature elaborate and sumptuous architectural  designs with numerous elements of articulation and structural  divisions, while retaining clarity and lucidity of layout.  Decorations in all of the rooms reveal the same kind  of three-dimensionality of the individual elements. Ornamental  motifs have been rendered with much delicacy and  a certain finesse regarding details. The great formal care is  complemented by a similar meticulousness with respect  to the choice of colour. Pastel, luminous shades dominate  in all of the polychromes. Each of the interiors has its  own, harmonized colour scheme comprising from several  to a dozen colours, depending on the composition. The  three-dimensionality of the elements of architectural divisions  is usually highlighted by a skilful use of value, which  intensifies the impression of colour harmony in the décor.  Careful and consistent employment of the chiaroscuro  technique, including the use of natural sources of light  in the room, is a typical feature of this kind of painted  decoration. It needs to be stressed that the distribution of  light in the polychromes at Krzysztofory Palace has been  designed to fit the layout of the real windows with extraordinary  care.  Emphasis on elements of three-dimensionality and the  choice of colours in these decorations, as well as composition  patterns and the use of delicate, arabesque ornaments  place the polychromes among early neo-classical art, therefore,  they should be dated to the 1780s or the 1790s, while  the decoration of the “belvedere”, by close analogy, should  be dated to the 1790s. Since the polychromes at Krzysztofory  Palace discussed in the present paper represent a homogeneous  design, the creation thereof should accordingly be  considered as a unified process.  In 1790 the mansion which badly needed renovation  was bought by Jacek Kluszewski, the Starosta of Brzeg. The  range of renovation works carried out at that time remains  unknown, but it should be assumed that the polychromes  in the west wing must have been created as part of the project  commissioned by Kluszewski. Designed and executed  with extreme care and attention to detail, the wall paintings  added much splendour to the interiors, transforming them  into stately rooms, which places them among the most interesting  neo-classical polychromes in Kraków. Judging by  their high artistic value, it is unlikely that they were designed  and painted by a mediocre house painter. There is  no information, not even a suggestion about the creator of  these decorations in the surviving archival materials. Maybe  it was Jacek Kluszewski himself – a theatre founder, a man  endowed with great sensitivity, lover of literature and the  arts with a wide spectrum of artistic interests – who was the  initiator of the decorations. The issues of authorship and  thorough analysis require further research.  The damage caused by subsequent renovation works in  the interiors does not disqualify the polychromes. The parts  of the wall paintings which have been uncovered have recently  undergone cleaning and technical conservation. Further  progress on the conservation process will depend on  the decisions made by the Heritage Conservation Commission.  However, the high artistic quality of the polychromes  at Krzysztofory Palace, especially compared to other interior  decorations in Kraków, definitely calls for complete restoration.  Once restored to their original state, the paintings  will markedly embellish the palace interiors and help the  building regain its stately character. They will also become  valuable additions to the set of period interiors that survive  in Kraków’s historical houses and city mansions.