Instytut Sztuki (Warschau) [Hrsg.]; Państwowy Instytut Sztuki (bis 1959) [Hrsg.]; Stowarzyszenie Historyków Sztuki [Hrsg.]: Biuletyn Historii Sztuki (71.2009)

ZWIĄZKI JOHANNA BERNHARDA FISCHERA VON ERLACH ZE ŚLĄSKIEM W ŚWIETLE ŹRÓDEŁ

75

J^/zćzzzzz R^rzz/zćzrJ FzAc/z^r wzz Er/ćzc/z A Cćzzzzz^c^zTzzzA wz^/z
&'/^z<3 zzz Z^A^ /zg/z^ r^c^zzZ^/y ^Kćzzzzzzz^J Aćzzzrc^A

This article is intended to present and discuss
sources discovered by the author that confirm
contacts between the imperiał architect Johann
Bernhard Fischer von Erlach with the Silesian court
of bishop Franz Ludwig von Neuburg. These
connections were not iimited to the composing of
plans for the bishop's mausoieum (known as the
Elector's Chapei) in Breslau (sińce 1945 Wrocław)
Cathedral, but - as had been previously assumed -
they embraced artistic supervision of its
construction, for the duration of a number of years,
as well as work on the chapeFs interior design and
fumishing. As is revealed by the accounts, in the
years 1716-21, an 'award' was madę 'to Fischer von
Erlach' for his 'direction' and 'inspection' of 'the
building of the Elector's ChapeF. It is diflicult to
establish on the basis of these documents if the
architect, preoccupied at this time with the
Aa/AA/rgAg in Vienna, could have visited Breslau
frequently, or if he in fact supervised the
construction through the employing of artists sent
from Vienna, fumished with instructions and
specific, pre-prepared designs. However, the
reference of 1719 makes it elear that the architect
was expected to make an appearance in Breslau in
the company of 'others experienced in art'; most
likely in connection with the commencing of work
on the interior design and furnishings of the
Elector's Chapei. It is also elear that von Erlach was
responsible for the preparing of cost estimates, it was
he who mediated in the purchasing of Tyrol marbles

Z. TEg.s7uM (cnrrent/y HTccA/w), E/gc/ory CAupg/,
arcA.E. EiygAgr E/7ugA, /Ag gr/y/grn g/gua/Zo/r
2. Ergy/aM E/gc/or y CAa//g/, arcA. V. E.
E/ygAgr wn Er/acA, Z/i/gAory
5. Ergy/an ^łTAocZaw), E/gg/or y CAapg/, argA. J. E.
E/ygAgr w// EEućA, murA/g g/aEE/ng o//Ag /M/g/"/or
4. Ergy/ć/M fRAog/uw), E/gg/or y CAg/pg/, Car/o
Znoggnzo Car/ong.* /rgygo /Ey/Eg /Ag go/?u/a
Egp/'g//Eg /Ag ygg/!g Cay/mg OM/ o/"/Ag Angg/y

and proposed a painter (unnamed) to the bishop as
well as negotiating the reward paid to the Italian
stucco artist, Santino Bussi (regarded by the investor
as being somewhat excessive). Von Erlach also took
it upon himself to have sent to Breslau a decorator in
marble, by the name of Cajetan, whose employment
had not been foreseen in the contract. Reference
conceming the cupola's stucco decoration, in a
chessboard-like pattem with central rosę motif,
suggests that Fischer may also have decided the
disposition for the cupola rnural, carried out with a
similar contexture by Carlo Carlone to correspond
strictly with those parts Enished in stucco.
It also tums out that the imperial architect sent
Franz Ludwig von Neuburg plans for the extending
of an unclearly defined bishop's residence - in all
likelihood a pałace in Breslau. These designs were
regarded as being too costly, as a result of which a
morę modest version was supposed to have been
ordered. Execution of the plans, moreover, was
apparently Iimited to the construction of a frontal
wing following, where this was feasible, the linę of
the Street in order to accord with the framework of
the 'old building'; as well as renovation of the 'inner
building'. The building's extension was, in the finał
count, to be postponed until completion of the
Elector's Chapei. The investigative results presented
here reveal the need to take into closer account the
phenomenon of 'architecture by correspondence'
(i.e. the conveyed design) in researching Baroque art
in Silesia.
7FaT?yA2/gE Ay Eg/g/' Mg/r/yn

5. Aysz/ fCg/:Ag/yyg), E/yAopy Eu/ggg, u/Zr/Au/gA
/o urcA. CAr/y/opAorMy ZAM.sćA, .soM/A-wg-y/g/w w/Eg
Acknowledgements:
Phot. Martin Madl (UDUAYĆR): 1-4;
phot. author: 5.