High altar

Abstract

The altar in question comes from the Church of Saint Clement of Rome in Wieliczka. It was funded in 1862 by coopers working in a salt mine in Wieliczka. The reredos which was dedicated to St. Barbara was made by Wojciech Zemba (or Ziemba / Zięba). In 1989, the altar of St. Barbara was transferred to the temple in Koźmice Wielkie which was being built at that time. The reredos was to serve as a high altar there - after replacement of the main representation. The monument in terms of form and colour represents the Neo-Gothic style. The iconographic programme includes themes referring to national iconography – the statues of the main patrons of Poland, St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów and St. Adalbert, as well as the local iconography connected with Wieliczka and the work's funders. Originally, in the main area of the altar there was a statue of St. Barbara, the patroness of miners. After moving the monument to the church in Koźmice, the painting of the Holy Trinity was placed inside. The painting corresponds to the invocation given to the temple in Koźmice.