Baranów Sandomierski Castle
Encyclopedia
Baranów Sandomerski Castle is a Mannerist
castle located in Baranów Sandomierski in the Subcarpathian Voivodship
, south-east Poland
. The castle is one of the most important Mannerist structures
in Poland.
The castle is known as the "little Wawel
". According to Polish law
, it is a "class zero monument". Originally, a residency of the Lubomirski family, it nowadays serves as a museum, hotel and conference centre.
with richly decorated attics, side towers and arcade courtyard. It is believed to be the work of a famous architect, Santi Gucci
, the court artist of king Stephen Báthory. In about 1620 the castle was surrounded by bastion fortifications and in 1625 the chambers were adorned with early baroque decorations executed by the eminent stucco
decorator Giovanni Battista Falconi.
By the end of the 17th century, the owners were the Lubomirski family, who decided to change their residence. Prince Józef Karol Lubomirski
hired a Dutch-Polish architect Tylman Gamerski
, who built the western wing gallery and embellished the interiors with profuse late-baroque stucco decorations. The gallery was intended to house a collection of art (all the works were destroyed in two fires in 1848 and 1898).
Castle in Baranów Sandomierski passed successively into the possession of families: Wiśniowiecki, Sanguszko, Lubomirski, Małachowski, Potocki and Krasicki. In 1867 it was acquired by Feliks Dolański.The structure was restored by subsequent owner Stanisław Dolański after a fire in 1898. Under the direction of Kraków
architect Tadeusz Stryjeński some changes were carried out in the layout. During this reconstruction one of the chambers on the ground floor was adopted as chapel and decorated in art nouveau style
. Stained-glass windows by Józef Mehoffer
and an altar with a painting of Jacek Malczewski
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception were major features of the interior. The castle remained in the possession of the Dolański family till the outbreak of World War II. After war damages the castle was rebuilt in the years 1959-1969 by the State under the guidance of professor Alfred Majewski. Then the bilding passed to Sulphur Mines and Plants "Siarkopol" in Tarnobrzeg.
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
castle located in Baranów Sandomierski in the Subcarpathian Voivodship
Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Podkarpackie Voivodeship , or Subcarpathian Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in extreme-southeastern Poland. Its administrative capital and largest city is Rzeszów...
, south-east Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The castle is one of the most important Mannerist structures
Mannerist architecture and sculpture in Poland
Mannerist architecture and sculpture in Poland dominated between 1550 and 1650, when it was finally replaced with baroque. The style includes various mannerist traditions, which are closely related with ethnic and religious diversity of the country, as well as with its economic and political...
in Poland.
The castle is known as the "little Wawel
Wawel
Wawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
". According to Polish law
Law of Poland
The Polish law, or legal system in Poland. has been developing since the first centuries of Polish history, over 1,000 years ago. The public and private laws of Poland are codified. The supreme law in Poland is the Constitution of Poland...
, it is a "class zero monument". Originally, a residency of the Lubomirski family, it nowadays serves as a museum, hotel and conference centre.
History
The castle was built around the years 1591–1606 for Rafał and Andrzej Leszczyński in the style of Polish MannerismMannerist architecture and sculpture in Poland
Mannerist architecture and sculpture in Poland dominated between 1550 and 1650, when it was finally replaced with baroque. The style includes various mannerist traditions, which are closely related with ethnic and religious diversity of the country, as well as with its economic and political...
with richly decorated attics, side towers and arcade courtyard. It is believed to be the work of a famous architect, Santi Gucci
Santi Gucci
Santi Gucci was a Polish-Italian architect and sculptor.-Biography:He moved to Poland after 1550, most probably from Florence, and became the court artist of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland, his queen consort Anna Jagiellonka and his successor Stefan Batory of Poland...
, the court artist of king Stephen Báthory. In about 1620 the castle was surrounded by bastion fortifications and in 1625 the chambers were adorned with early baroque decorations executed by the eminent stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
decorator Giovanni Battista Falconi.
By the end of the 17th century, the owners were the Lubomirski family, who decided to change their residence. Prince Józef Karol Lubomirski
Józef Karol Lubomirski
Prince Józef Karol Lubomirski was a Polish noble.He was owner of Dubno, Wiśnicz, Tarnów and Zesław, Koniuszy of the Crown since 1683, Court Marshals of the Crown since 1692, Grand Marshal of the Crown in 1702, Starost of Sandomierz and Zator....
hired a Dutch-Polish architect Tylman Gamerski
Tylman van Gameren
Tylman van Gameren was a Dutch-born Polish architect and engineer who, at the age of 28, settled in Poland and worked for Queen Maria Kazimiera, wife of Poland's King Jan III Sobieski...
, who built the western wing gallery and embellished the interiors with profuse late-baroque stucco decorations. The gallery was intended to house a collection of art (all the works were destroyed in two fires in 1848 and 1898).
Castle in Baranów Sandomierski passed successively into the possession of families: Wiśniowiecki, Sanguszko, Lubomirski, Małachowski, Potocki and Krasicki. In 1867 it was acquired by Feliks Dolański.The structure was restored by subsequent owner Stanisław Dolański after a fire in 1898. Under the direction of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
architect Tadeusz Stryjeński some changes were carried out in the layout. During this reconstruction one of the chambers on the ground floor was adopted as chapel and decorated in art nouveau style
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
. Stained-glass windows by Józef Mehoffer
Józef Mehoffer
Józef Mehoffer was a Polish painter and decorative artist, one of the leading artists of the Young Poland movement and one of the most revered Polish artists of his time.-Life:...
and an altar with a painting of Jacek Malczewski
Jacek Malczewski
Jacek Malczewski was one of the most famous painters of Polish Symbolism. In his creativity he successfully joins the predominant style of his times with motifs of Polish martyrdom.-See also:...
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception were major features of the interior. The castle remained in the possession of the Dolański family till the outbreak of World War II. After war damages the castle was rebuilt in the years 1959-1969 by the State under the guidance of professor Alfred Majewski. Then the bilding passed to Sulphur Mines and Plants "Siarkopol" in Tarnobrzeg.