Stucco Decoration in the Church in Stare Chęciny and the Question of Baldassarre Fontana’s Influence

Mariusz Smoliński

Published: 2025-12-18

Vol. 32 No. 63-64 (2025)

Stucco Decoration in the Church in Stare Chęciny and the Question of Baldassarre Fontana’s Influence

Mariusz Smoliński

Abstract

Despite damage and subsequent reconstruction of many elements and extensive renovations, which in places strongly interfered with the original forms of the stucco, analysis of the figurative and ornamental elements reveals their close connections to the works of Baldassarre Fontana. These relate to the method of modeling the figures, the type of relief, as well as the design of the draperies and the repertoire of ornamental motifs. Due to the lack of archival sources, the question of the authorship of the decoration remains unresolved. However, the scale and nature of the formal analogies allow us to link its creation directly to artists from Fontana's workshop or immediate circle, rather than merely to the indirect influence of his work. The decoration in Stare Chęciny thus fits into the broader problem of reconstructing the activities of Fontana's workshop and the scope of its influence.

Keywords:

stucco decoration, stucco sculpture, Baldassarre Fontana, Stare Chęciny, Stefan Bidziński

Download files

pdf

Cited by / Share

References

Publications
Google Scholar

Betlej A., Nowe źródła do kaplicy Wiśniowieckich we Lwowie, [in:] Między Wrocławiem a Lwowem.
Google Scholar

Sztuka na Śląsku, w Małopolsce i na Rusi Koronnej w czasach nowożytnych, eds. A. Betlej,
Google Scholar

K. Brzezina-Scheuerer, P. Oszczanowski, Wrocław 2011, pp. 305–314.
Google Scholar

Caroselli M., Válek J., Zapletalová J., Felici A., Frankeová D., Kozlovcev P., Nicoli G., Jean G.,
Google Scholar

Study of Materials and Technique of Late Baroque Stucco Decorations: Baldassarre Fontana
Google Scholar

from Ticino to Czechia, „Heritage” 2021, no 4, pp. 1737–1753.
Google Scholar

Felici A., Zapletalová J., Caroselli M., Nicoli G., Uccelli M., Válek J., Gli stucchi di Baldassarre
Google Scholar

Fontana, primi appunti su tempi d’esecuzione, materiali e tecniche: lo studio della Galleria degli
Google Scholar

angeli del Castello di Uherčice, in: L’arte e tecnica delle decorazioni a stucco in Europa. Dalla
Google Scholar

ﬁne del XV alla metà del XVIII secolo. Art and Industry of Stucco Decoration in Europe. From
Google Scholar

the Late 15th to the Middle of 18th Century, eds. G. Jean, A. Felici, Roma 2025, pp. 360–375.
Google Scholar

Gransinigh F.B., Baldassarre Fontana (1661-1733): alcune note e considerazioni sui linguaggi
Google Scholar

d’area romana nei cantieri polacchi e moravi, „Archistor. Architettura, Storia, Restauro –
Google Scholar

Architecture, History, Restoration” 8 (2021), no 15, pp. 100–133.
Google Scholar

Hundert Z., Strażnicy koronny i wojskowy w dobie Jana Sobieskiego (1667-1696). Kilka uwag
Google Scholar

o osobach odpowiedzialnych za organizowanie przemarszów armii koronnej, “Acta Universi-
Google Scholar

tatis Lodziensis. Folia Historica” 2017, no 99, pp. 149–170.
Google Scholar

Jemelková S., Modiﬁcations to Hukvaldy Castle, 1667-1691, [in:] Karl von Lichtenstein-Castel-
Google Scholar

corno (1624-1695). Places of Bishop’s Memory, eds. R. Švácha, M. Potůčková, J. Kroupa,
Google Scholar

Olomouc 2019, pp. 425–430.
Google Scholar

Karpowicz M., Baldasar Fontana 1661-1733. Un berniniano ticinese in Moravia e Polonia,
Google Scholar

Lugano 1990.
Google Scholar

Karpowicz M., Baltazar Fontana – architekt, “Biuletyn Historii Sztuki” 77 (2015), no 3,
Google Scholar

pp. 363–407.
Google Scholar

Karpowicz M., Baltazar Fontana – rzeźbiarz, “Rocznik Historii Sztuki” 20 (1994), pp. 109–213.
Google Scholar

Karpowicz M., Baltazar Fontana, Warszawa 1994.
Google Scholar

Karpowicz M., Kaplica Lanckorońskich w Kurozwękach, [in:] Ars historiae, historia artis. Prace
Google Scholar

oﬁ arowane profesorowi Andrzejowi Wyrobiszowi, eds. E. Dubas-Urwanowicz, J. Maroszek,
Google Scholar

Białystok 2012, pp. 211–218.
Google Scholar

Karpowicz M., Sztuka Warszawy czasów Jana III, Warszawa 1987.
Google Scholar

Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce, vol. 3: Województwo kieleckie, eds. J. Z. Łoziński, B. Wolﬀ,
Google Scholar

issue 4: Powiat kielecki, Warszawa 1957.
Google Scholar

Kowalczyk J., Świątynie i klasztory późnobarokowe w archidiecezji lwowskiej, „Rocznik Historii
Google Scholar

Sztuki” 28 (2003), pp. 169–298.
Google Scholar

Kowalczyk J., Świątynie późnobarokowe na Kresach. kościoły i klasztory w diecezjach na Rusi
Google Scholar

Koronnej, Warszawa 2006.
Google Scholar

Kurzej M., Baldassare Fontana in Mendrisiotto. Riﬂ essione critica sulla paternità delle opere,
Google Scholar

„Archivio Storico Ticinese” 2024, no 176, pp. 82–102.
Google Scholar

Kurzej M., Baldassarre Fontana in Cracow, [in:] L’arte e tecnica delle decorazioni a stucco in
Google Scholar

Europa. Dalla ﬁne del XV alla metà del XVIII secolo. Art and Industry of Stucco Decoration
Google Scholar

in Europe. From the Late 15th to the Middle of 18th Century, eds. G. Jean, A. Felici, Roma
Google Scholar

2025, pp. 341–359.
Google Scholar

M. Kurzej, Budowa i dekoracja krakowskiego kościoła pw. Św. Anny w świetle źródeł archiwalnych,
Google Scholar

[in:] Fides, ars, scientia. Studia dedykowane pamięci Księdza Kanonika Augustyna Mednisa,
Google Scholar

eds. A. Betlej, J. Skrabski, Tarnów 2008, pp. 271–301.
Google Scholar

Kurzej M., Depingere fas est. Sebastian Piskorski jako konceptor i prowizor, Kraków 2018.
Google Scholar

Kurzej M., Siedemnastowieczne sztukaterie w Małopolsce, Kraków 2012.
Google Scholar

Lustracja województwa sandomierskiego 1789, part 1: Powiaty sandomierski, chęciński, opoczyń-
Google Scholar

ski i ziemia stężycka, ed. Helena Madurowicz-Urbańska, Wrocław-Warszawa-Kraków 1965.
Google Scholar

Miłobędzki A., Architektura XVII wieku w Polsce, Warszawa 1970.
Google Scholar

Mossakowski S., Tylman z Gameren (1632-1706). Twórczość architektoniczna w Polsce, Warszawa-
Google Scholar

-Monachium-Berlin 2012.
Google Scholar

Navarra F. P., Monograﬁ a kościołów dyecezyi kieleckiej, Warszawa 1911.
Google Scholar

Parma T., „Wisscovia elegans et instaurata”. Reconstruction and Completion of the Vyškov Cha-
Google Scholar

teau, 1667-1682, in: Karl von Lichtenstein-Castelcorno (1624-1695). Places of Bishop’s
Google Scholar

Memory, eds. R. Švácha, M. Potůčková, J. Kroupa, Olomouc 2019, pp. 243–259.
Google Scholar

Paulewicz M., Kościoły i kaplice Chęcin, “Nasza Przeszłość” 57 (1982), pp. 211–231.
Google Scholar

Petrus J. T., Lwowska katedra obrządku łacińskiego pw. Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Marii Panny.
Google Scholar

Przewodnik, Warszawa 1999.
Google Scholar

Piwarski K., Bidziński Stefan, [in:] Polski Słownik Biograﬁ czny, vol. 2 (Beyzym Jan-Brownsford
Google Scholar

Marja), Kraków 1936, pp. 20–22.
Google Scholar

Procházka V., Kaple sv. Otilie ve Vyškově, „Památky Archeologické” 36 (1929-1930), issue 3-4,
Google Scholar

pp. 258–268.
Google Scholar

Rawita-Witanowski M., Dawny powiat chęciński. Z ilustracjami prof. Jana Olszewskiego, ed.
Google Scholar

D. Kalina, Kielce 2001.
Google Scholar

Uccelli M., Caroselli M., Válek J., Zapletalová J., Felici A., Nicoli G., Jean G., Characterization
Google Scholar

of the stucco decoration by Baldassarre Fontana in the Gallery of the Angels at Uherčice Castle
Google Scholar

(Cz), „Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports” 44 (2022).
Google Scholar

Zabytki sztuki w Polsce. Małopolska, Warszawa 2016.
Google Scholar

Zapletalová J., Decoration of the Chateau Halls and Staircases, in: Karl von Lichtenstein-Castel-
Google Scholar

corno (1624-1695). Places of Bishop’s Memory, eds. R. Švácha, M. Potůčková, J. Kroupa,
Google Scholar

Olomouc 2019, pp. 129–133.
Google Scholar

Zapletalová J., La comunità dei magistri ceresiani a Kroměříž impegnata alla decorazione del
Google Scholar

Castello (1685-1695), „Archivio Storico Ticinese” 2025, no 177, pp. 78–82.
Google Scholar

Zapletalová J., Saly terreny zámku v Kroměříži a návrhy soch pro Podzámeckou zahradu, „Umění.
Google Scholar

Art” 65 (2017), no 3, pp. 269–282
Google Scholar

Zapletalová J., Švácha R., „Sumptuosa et magniﬁca ecclesia”. The Pilgrimage Church of St. James
Google Scholar

the Greater and St. Anne at Stará Voda, 1680-1690, [in:] Karl von Lichtenstein-Castelcorno
Google Scholar

(1624-1695). Places of Bishop’s Memory, eds. R. Švácha, M. Potůčková, J. Kroupa, Olomouc
Google Scholar

2019, pp. 393–417.
Google Scholar

Websites
Google Scholar

Ziółkowska A., Zespół kościoła paraﬁ alnego pw. św. Stanisława, https://zabytek.pl/pl/obiekty/
Google Scholar

starocheciny-zespol-kosciola-par-pw-sw-stanislawa [accessed 30.10.2025]
Google Scholar