DOI issue:
Nr. 3-4
DOI article:Król-Kaczorowska, Barbara: Sala balowa dworu w Świerznie
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49519#0259
The Ballroom in the Manor House of Świerzno
249
The Ballroom in the Manor House of Świerzno
Świerzno (Ger.: Schwirsen) is a small place in West-
ern Pomerania on the Polish side ofthe post-Second
World War border, where, in the first halfofthe 18th
century, Bogusław Bodo Fleming had built a manor
house with a group of service buildings and a park
laid out. Fleming (1671-1732) was general-lieuten-
ant of the royal cavalry division serving August II.
One ofthe buildings featured a ballroom with a sepa-
rate gallery for musicians on the first floor, sur-
mounted by the family coat of arms ofthe Flemings,
complete with an inscription referring to the owner.
The ballroom's main decorative feature is an illu-
sionary frieze portraying a balcony with balustrade
upon which are placed 16 figures dressed in carnival
clothing which would have looked down on the
general-lieutenant's guests as they danced on the
ground floor. Among the figures depicted in the
frieze, those dressed in costumes typical of actors
and actresses from the comedia dell ’arte prevail.
These include a family of three Harlequins (i.e.
mother, father and child) dressed in outfits made from
coloured patches, a Pantaloon in long trousers, a
1. 'The Gate' to the manor house grounds featuring
pigeon houses
2. Participants in a field trip to Western Pomerania
organised by the Warsaw Division ofthe Art Histo-
rians' Society in June 1955 visiting the manor house
at Świerzno (Ger.: Schwirsen)
3. Świerzno. Detail ofpolychrome in the Ballroom
4. Swierzno. Detail ofpolychrome in the Ballroom
5. Świerzno. Fleming family coat ofarms above the
musicians' gallery in the Ballroom
6. Detail of the Ballroom polychrome. Zanies de-
picted as musicians
7. Detail ofthe Ballroom polychrome. Harlequin with
his son
doctor (of philosophy) dressed in black holding a
book, a captain with a sword, zanies, soubrettes, but
there are also country lasses in their folk costumes.
There is also no want of children: one little boy is
playing with a dog, while another amuses himselfwith
a monkey. Unfortunately, the author ofthe ballroom's
decor remains unknown, although it is possible to
place him among the creative circles of Dresden,
where the comedia dell 'arte enjoyed much success
among the Wettin monarchs.
Illusionary painting was still highly popular in
the 18th century. It decorated the interiors of
churches, palaces and also the stages and set pieces
of theatres. One such playhouse with viewers placed
in a gallery has been preserved to current times in
the Orangerie theatre of the Łazienki Gardens in
Warsaw (1788). However, the frieze in the ballroom
of Świerzno is around sixty years earlier (i.e. ca.
1728). It would be worthwhile undertaking conser-
vation work on this pleasing and colourful historical
monument in order to preserve it for future genera-
tions.
Translated by Peter Martyn
8. Detail ofthe Ballroom polychrome. Doctor
9. Detail of the Ballroom polychrome. Pantaloon
10. Detail of the Ballroom polychrome. 'Country
wench'
11. Heaven with rosette in Ballroom ceiling
12. The church at Świerzno
Photographs:
A. Kaczorowski: 1, 12
A. Miłobędzki: 2
Photographic Archives of the National Museum,
Szczecin: 3-11
249
The Ballroom in the Manor House of Świerzno
Świerzno (Ger.: Schwirsen) is a small place in West-
ern Pomerania on the Polish side ofthe post-Second
World War border, where, in the first halfofthe 18th
century, Bogusław Bodo Fleming had built a manor
house with a group of service buildings and a park
laid out. Fleming (1671-1732) was general-lieuten-
ant of the royal cavalry division serving August II.
One ofthe buildings featured a ballroom with a sepa-
rate gallery for musicians on the first floor, sur-
mounted by the family coat of arms ofthe Flemings,
complete with an inscription referring to the owner.
The ballroom's main decorative feature is an illu-
sionary frieze portraying a balcony with balustrade
upon which are placed 16 figures dressed in carnival
clothing which would have looked down on the
general-lieutenant's guests as they danced on the
ground floor. Among the figures depicted in the
frieze, those dressed in costumes typical of actors
and actresses from the comedia dell ’arte prevail.
These include a family of three Harlequins (i.e.
mother, father and child) dressed in outfits made from
coloured patches, a Pantaloon in long trousers, a
1. 'The Gate' to the manor house grounds featuring
pigeon houses
2. Participants in a field trip to Western Pomerania
organised by the Warsaw Division ofthe Art Histo-
rians' Society in June 1955 visiting the manor house
at Świerzno (Ger.: Schwirsen)
3. Świerzno. Detail ofpolychrome in the Ballroom
4. Swierzno. Detail ofpolychrome in the Ballroom
5. Świerzno. Fleming family coat ofarms above the
musicians' gallery in the Ballroom
6. Detail of the Ballroom polychrome. Zanies de-
picted as musicians
7. Detail ofthe Ballroom polychrome. Harlequin with
his son
doctor (of philosophy) dressed in black holding a
book, a captain with a sword, zanies, soubrettes, but
there are also country lasses in their folk costumes.
There is also no want of children: one little boy is
playing with a dog, while another amuses himselfwith
a monkey. Unfortunately, the author ofthe ballroom's
decor remains unknown, although it is possible to
place him among the creative circles of Dresden,
where the comedia dell 'arte enjoyed much success
among the Wettin monarchs.
Illusionary painting was still highly popular in
the 18th century. It decorated the interiors of
churches, palaces and also the stages and set pieces
of theatres. One such playhouse with viewers placed
in a gallery has been preserved to current times in
the Orangerie theatre of the Łazienki Gardens in
Warsaw (1788). However, the frieze in the ballroom
of Świerzno is around sixty years earlier (i.e. ca.
1728). It would be worthwhile undertaking conser-
vation work on this pleasing and colourful historical
monument in order to preserve it for future genera-
tions.
Translated by Peter Martyn
8. Detail ofthe Ballroom polychrome. Doctor
9. Detail of the Ballroom polychrome. Pantaloon
10. Detail of the Ballroom polychrome. 'Country
wench'
11. Heaven with rosette in Ballroom ceiling
12. The church at Świerzno
Photographs:
A. Kaczorowski: 1, 12
A. Miłobędzki: 2
Photographic Archives of the National Museum,
Szczecin: 3-11