Institute of History of Art

Monastic Architecture in Poland by the End of the Eleventh Century. A New Perspective.

The oldest architecture constructed for the use of monastic orders has rarely been the subject of synthetic studies that would consider functions of the architecture as its primary criterion. Particular set of buildings — and mostly churches, which are best preserved — are usually presented from the monographic perspective; the contextual point of view is relatively rarely discussed. Therefore, this study was undertaken to review four constructions: buildings in Tum near Łęczyca, in Tyniec, in Mogilno, and in Lubiń. All four were either related or connected with the Benedictine Order and located in the area ruled by the Piast dynasty by the end of the eleventh century. They are analyzed from the perspective of archaeological, artistic and historical discoveries and researches conduct so far. The issues which are discussed most, concern form of the buildings, time of their creation and their founders. Churches in Tyniec and Mogilno are best preserved and thus are analyzed wider. Their creation can be associated with the same Piast dynasty rulers, that is with Casimir I the Restorer (Kazimierz Odnowiciel) and Bolesław II the Generous (Bolesław Szczodry). Also another building associated with the Benedictine Order, related to the above mentioned rulers as well, that is Saint Gereon’s Church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków is taken into the study. Many elements of Gereon’s Church form, as well as its spatial design can be combined into a coherent set of features similar to the constructions in Mogilno and Tyniec. Thus it is shown that the characteristic features given to these buildings join them not by their function but by their founders. A similar trend appears in edifices constructed under the rule of Přemyslid dynasty and Árpád dynasty. The study shows that the variety of forms, different bodies of the buildings along with architectural details testify a diversity of patterns from different, sometimes distant regions. And that all formed a unique, in many ways, and a highly diverse image of architecture created within Benedictine circles by the end of the eleventh century. In the light of the above it is shown that the main character of the buildings was influenced mostly by the founding person (or persons) — and that is evident particularly in a specific type of a basilica closed from the east with three apses and two-tower western block Therefore, the term “Benedictine architecture” or “monastic architecture” in relation to the churches built by the Benedictine monasteries is rather groundless.

The relationship between two important centres of power: Kraków and Prague, were taken on a num -
ber of planes. One of them was the architecture of the cathedrals in these centres and mutual relation-
ships between them. Although, the starting point for this issue was a braided ornament that appears
as a decoration of both assumptions, this also designated direction for searching for a formal analogy.
Apparently similar structures, two-choir basilicas with choirs constructed on crypts, encouraged re-
searchers, mainly from Poland, to compare them and consider interpenetration of formal designs.
This was allowed by more and better condition of recognition of 11th-century phases of both assump -
tions. Kraków’s cathedral proved to be a two-choir building without transept. When constructing
a three-absidal eastern part, older relics were applied, causing its asymmetry, like the whole assump-
tion. The western part consisted of: apsida, flanking rooms and towers as well as atrium. Both choirs
were constructed on crypts, and galleries were over side naves. In addition, the eastern part of the
cathedral of Prague was asymmetrical due to the inclusion of older structures. The western choir was
flanked by almost square transept arms, which were converted into side naves from the east. Under
the central parts of both choirs, there were multi-naves crypts.
A more detailed analysis of both assumptions allowed to state that certainly, the artistic designs
used in both structures were defined for the monumental imperial executions, mainly the Rhine, but
each of them by them executed it in another way, in accordance with the local needs. The similarity
between two cathedrals ends at the general formal solutions. The shape of the structure and internal
divisions, especially in the western part, is totally different in each of them. This new construction
proves primarily an unusual dynamics and activity of the centres, in which they were constructed.

The remains of medieval Wislica consist not only of the well know upstanding Gothic collegiate church and the house of its canons, but also of archaeological sites located in various places of the old town centre. Fieldwork investigations, conducted mainly in the 1960s, exposed medieval remains that form a proof of the affluent past of Wislica.
A systematic archaeological work here begun in 1949. Then, in 1958, the Unit for Research on Polish Middle Ages of the Warsaw University and the Warsaw Polytechnic was created. The unit, directed by W. Antoniewicz and Z. Wartołowska continued its work throughout the 1960s. The team, led by the latter scholar, uncovered remains of a small, aisleless church building (with an apse and a rectangular annex) and adjacent foundations of a structure interpreted then as a baptismal piscina. While the research ran by A. Tomaszewski, in the underground of the collegiate, uncovered remains of walls belonging to two Romanesque phases of the edifice. In the crypt of the oldest phase, a gypsum flooring with engraved figural decoration placed in wide bands on the floor edges. Moreover, remains of a residential complex (palatia) in the north-western part of the city and a cemetery belonging to the parish of St Martin Church were unearthed.
The original interpretation of the remains of the aisles church, of the so-called baptismal bowl (piscina), and of the palatia complex were based on The Life of Saint Methodius which mentions a baptism event of the Vistulan tribe prince in the 9th century.
The results of the unit's archaeological works were verified in 1980s and 1990s, by new excavations, including re-excavations of formerly dug up sites. The interpretation of the piscina structure was put into a question, while the dating of the church and the palatia was moved to the 12th century (precisely to post 1135). Gradually the data obtained by the unit are being complemented and put in orde. However, there is no comprehensive study summarising all the research conducted on the early medieval remains of Wiślica. The first step for this would need to be a critical study of the research results and formulation of further topic questions.
The presented in this paper, a short and general recall of the history and of results of the conducted so far research allow us to realise the striking dissonance in between the images presented by modern Wislica (an inconspicuous village - as its city rights were annulled in 1869) and by the magnificent medieval past evidenced by architecture and other arts.
The work conducted by the mentioned above Warsaw's research unit brought into light Wislica's opulent past (known until the 1950s only from medieval written sources). The place was an important medieval cultural and political centre. One has to realise that Wislica's importance in the medieval period followed only that of Krakow and Sandomierz in the Little Poland area – all three were centres of the princely rule with examples of medieval art belonging to higher echelons.
The history and the landscape of Wislica have to be the subjects of further study and as well as protection.

Tłumaczenie: M. Górniak