About
Virtual guide along the route of “Lower Silesian sacral polychromes” is to show the most valuable medieval polychromes in secular and sacred buildings in Lower Silesia. This region of Poland is particularly rich in medieval painting ornaments, many of them have only been discovered in recent years, surprising art historians with their high artistic level. Colorful polychromes were extremely popular throughout Poland from the Middle Ages, but most of them have survived in the Lower Silesia region. They are often an outstanding example of medieval Silesian Painting, which was shaped by the limes of Polish, Czech and German influences.
Many of the decorations were created by masters decorating churches and cathedrals in Bohemia and the Roman-German Empire. Probably the work of such traveling artists is the Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in the 14th-century tower castle in Siedlęcin, the only painting in the world on this subject preserved „in situ”. Over time, when Silesia became one of the important regions of Europe, local artists also appeared, who following medieval patterns, created original Silesian art.
The „Virtual Guide” invites you to visit churches and castles in an accessible way, with Romanesque and, more often, Gothic polychromes. So far, no guide has been created that would show the possibilities of visiting Lower Silesian monuments with polychromes in a comprehensive and transparent way. The guide is popularizing and encouraging to spend free time actively and to broaden the knowledge about the history of Lower Silesia and the subject matter presented in the frescoes. Apart from descriptions and historical context, there are also legends and stories related to the paintings. The guide aims to encourage you to discover the elements of the polychrome on your own, compare their class or present individual characters.
St. Christopher or St. Jerzy, appear in several places in Silesia, so they can be juxtaposed and compared, and even find out if they were not made by the same man. The website also contains interesting facts showing the approach to art in different ages: Lady Guinevere and the knight Lancelot from the Siedlęcin tower were repainted in the 19th century.
The guide will lead you through the most famous places, such as the trail “Szlak Polichromii Brzeskich” with the famous Pauperum Bible in Małujowice and to monuments that are rarely visited, and yet unique due to their class, such as Romanesque churches in Świerzawa or Lubiechowa.
The recipient of the guide is to take a virtual journey into the world of old masters and their ideas, which will allow them to have a mature and critical look at the monuments of old painting. At the same time, it is supposed to be an incentive to discover the fascinating world of sacred art monuments in Poland on your own.