Overlooking Rynek Główny, this striking brick church, best known
simply as St Mary’s, is dominated by two towers of different heights.
The first church here was built in the 1220s and following its
destruction during a Tatar raid, construction of the basilica began.
Tour the exquisite interior, with its remarkable carved wooden
altarpiece, and in summer climb the tower for excellent views. Don't
miss the hourly hejnał (bugle call) from the taller tower.
The
main church entrance, through a Baroque portal added to the southwestern
facade in the 1750s, is used by worshippers; tourists must enter
through the side door to the southeast.
The chancel is illuminated
by magnificent stained-glass windows dating from the late 14th century;
the blue star vaulting of the nave is breathtaking. On the opposite
side of the church, above the organ loft, is a fine Art Nouveau
stained-glass window by Stanisław Wyspiański and Józef Mehoffer. The
colourful wall paintings, designed by Jan Matejko, harmonise beautifully
with the medieval architecture and are an appropriate background for
the high altar, which is acclaimed as the greatest masterpiece of Gothic
art in Poland and allegedly designated the eighth wonder of the world
by Pablo Picasso.
The altarpiece is a pentaptych (an altarpiece
consisting of a central panel and two pairs of side wings), intricately
carved in lime wood, then painted and gilded. The main scene, visible
when the pentaptych is open, represents the Dormition (or Assumption) of
the Virgin surrounded by the Apostles. The outside has a dozen sections
portraying scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin. The
altarpiece is topped with the Coronation of the Virgin in Heaven and, on
both sides, the statues of the patron saints of Poland, St Stanislaus
and St Adalbert.
Measuring about 13m high and 11m wide, the
pentaptych is the country's largest and most important piece of medieval
art. It took a decade for its maker, Veit Stoss (known in Poland as Wit
Stwosz), to complete this monumental work before it was consecrated in
1489.
No comments:
Post a Comment