Further outcomes of the conservation works conducted within the framework of the project “Conservation and restoration of the 14th c. castle in Lidzbark Warmiński – a pearl of gothic architecture in Poland – stage II” can be seen in the castle of Lidzbark Warmiński.
On Tuesday, 8 December 2015, restoration of the walls and vaults of the first floor of the castle galleries was completed. The results of the efforts by the group of conservators were approved by the commission consisting of the representatives of the investor, the Voivodship Conservator of Monuments, and expert specialists in conservation of wall polychromies (Prof Bogumiła Rouba – NCU in Toruń, Prof Władysław Zalewski – Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Szymon Bakalarczyk – Voivodship Conservator of Arts in Olsztyn, Elżbieta Jelińska – Director, Museum of Warmia and Mazury, Leszek Natora – representative of the substitute investor, Anna Szymańska and Grzegorz Świętochowski – Museum of Warmia and Mazury).
On the same day, a press conference was held with the participation of the contractors and cooperating experts (Marcin Kozarzewski, Ryszard Żankowski, Adam Szweda – NCU in Toruń, Jerzy Domasłowski – AMU Poznań). Małgorzata Okulicz from the Museum of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn also presented the results of conservation of monumental furniture conducted within the framework of the project.
Iconographic and artistic reconstruction of the scenes presented on the walls of the galleries represented an important component in reconstruction of the paintings. Ryszard Żankowski, who cooperated with the group of conservators, presented the results of research work. Reconstructions of the paintings will be made available to visitors in posters as a component of the educational programme on the exceptional group of medieval polychromies in the castle of Lidzbark. Dr Jerzy Domasłowski presented the artistic provenience of the paintings. He linked the creators of the painted decorations in the castle galleries with Czech artists and attributed the commissioning the work to the Bishop Henryk III Sorbom. Restoration of the paintings was accompanied also by identification and studies on the historical graffiti left by the guests and residents of Lidzbark castle. Around 140 different inscriptions and drawings: 50 on the northern wall, 40 on the southern wall, 34 on the western wall and 21 on the eastern wall, were identified on polychromies covering the walls of the galleries. All of them were investigated and subjected to renovation.
The journalists could also see some restored pieces of furniture – two baroque wardrobes, including the immense wall wardrobe from the 18th c. that will adorn the castle entrance hall and a small chest of drawers (sepet) from the 17th c. The journalists were also presented the scope of conservation work conducted on the presented pieces of furniture on photographs. Małgorzata Okulicz also presented a discovery made by the present day conservator of the/a wardrobe originating from the Lehndorff family palace in Sztynort – a curiosity in the shape of a letter written and left by the master joiner who renovated the piece in the summer of 1838.
The reconstruction works in the castle of the Bishops of Warmia will continue until April next year. They cover refurbishment of the roofs, conservation works on the fronts and towers, modernisation of the central heating as well as sewers and water distribution networks, replacement of the power and lighting protection installations as well as adaptation of the cellars for exhibition purposes. In addition to the refurbishment and conservation works, illumination of the castle will be installed and the exhibition on the history of the castle’s construction will be established in the renovated cellars.
The funds for project implementation originate from the Norway Grants and the European Economic Area funds (provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as well as the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The own contribution was provided by the territorial government of Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodship.
On the same day, a press conference was held with the participation of the contractors and cooperating experts (Marcin Kozarzewski, Ryszard Żankowski, Adam Szweda – NCU in Toruń, Jerzy Domasłowski – AMU Poznań). Małgorzata Okulicz from the Museum of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn also presented the results of conservation of monumental furniture conducted within the framework of the project.
Iconographic and artistic reconstruction of the scenes presented on the walls of the galleries represented an important component in reconstruction of the paintings. Ryszard Żankowski, who cooperated with the group of conservators, presented the results of research work. Reconstructions of the paintings will be made available to visitors in posters as a component of the educational programme on the exceptional group of medieval polychromies in the castle of Lidzbark. Dr Jerzy Domasłowski presented the artistic provenience of the paintings. He linked the creators of the painted decorations in the castle galleries with Czech artists and attributed the commissioning the work to the Bishop Henryk III Sorbom. Restoration of the paintings was accompanied also by identification and studies on the historical graffiti left by the guests and residents of Lidzbark castle. Around 140 different inscriptions and drawings: 50 on the northern wall, 40 on the southern wall, 34 on the western wall and 21 on the eastern wall, were identified on polychromies covering the walls of the galleries. All of them were investigated and subjected to renovation.
The journalists could also see some restored pieces of furniture – two baroque wardrobes, including the immense wall wardrobe from the 18th c. that will adorn the castle entrance hall and a small chest of drawers (sepet) from the 17th c. The journalists were also presented the scope of conservation work conducted on the presented pieces of furniture on photographs. Małgorzata Okulicz also presented a discovery made by the present day conservator of the/a wardrobe originating from the Lehndorff family palace in Sztynort – a curiosity in the shape of a letter written and left by the master joiner who renovated the piece in the summer of 1838.
The reconstruction works in the castle of the Bishops of Warmia will continue until April next year. They cover refurbishment of the roofs, conservation works on the fronts and towers, modernisation of the central heating as well as sewers and water distribution networks, replacement of the power and lighting protection installations as well as adaptation of the cellars for exhibition purposes. In addition to the refurbishment and conservation works, illumination of the castle will be installed and the exhibition on the history of the castle’s construction will be established in the renovated cellars.
The funds for project implementation originate from the Norway Grants and the European Economic Area funds (provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as well as the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The own contribution was provided by the territorial government of Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodship.
