Wall polychrome

Abstract

The polychrome decorating the interior of the Church of Our Lady of Protection in Kamień was made in two stages in 1939 and in 1979. The pre-war polychrome design depicting scenes from the life of Mary and Christ, complemented by floral and geometric ornament, was prepared by Professor Ludwik Konarzewski, who, with the help of his son Ludwik and students, also took care of its creation. The works lasted from July to December 1939. In 1979, on the initiative of parish priest Tadeusz Masłowski, the painter Jerzy Witkowski, together with his wife Elżbieta and assistant Stefan Baran, covered the floral and geometric ornament, replacing it with paintings imitating architectural motifs taken from the decorations of alabaster altars. From the polychrome designed by Ludwik Konarzewski, images of evangelists decorating the walls of the chancel, the image of Madonna of Częstochowa surrounded by Polish saints and figural scenes on the nave vault and on the west wall of the church were preserved. The figural polychrome designed on the eve of the outbreak of World War II and performed in the first months of its duration includes scenes from the life of Mary and Christ enriched with hagiographic and patriotic-national motifs, such as the representation of Madonna of Częstochowa on the wings of a white eagle, adored by a group of Polish saints.