DOI article:
Adamski, Jakub: The influence of 13th - and 14th century English architecture in the Southern Baltic region and Poland
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31348#0047
years later, of a distinguished Bohemian and German tradition of triradial umbrella
vaults"^. When it comes to the relationship between Malbork and Liibeck, he stated
that the Bnc/kapc& may have played a decisive role in determining the origin of
the castle interiors, despite the fact that its own origins lie in England^".
In turn, Becker-Hounslow tried to exclude any direct linkage between St Annes
Chapel and Chapter House and scrutinised differences in the use of triradials
in both interiors. She suggested that the architect of the Bnc/kape& knew the
aforementioned triradial vaults from Germany, but he could have known it from
the Westminster Chapter House. In turn, the great Malbork constructions result
from the independent Prussian evolution of the decorative rib patterns, which
she called the "Prussian vault explosion" W
Before we proceed, it must be emphasised that there can be no certainty when
it comes to the question of possible origins of the Malbork and Liibeck umbrella
vaults. As noted by Crossley, similarities between any two constructions may be
"striking but superficial", and any conclusions will be merely hypothetical, and to
some extent subjective. It is also worth noting that during the entire Middle Ages
the whole Southern Baltic area, including Hanseatic cities like Lubeck and the
State of the Teutonic Knights, maintained lively political and commercial con-
tacts with England, where the Order was even called the Caput HaasaW This
means that, at least theoretically, the English artistic influence could serve as the
inspiration anywhere in the Baltic region.
3- Lubeck, St Mary, vault
of the Briefkopelte. Photo:
author
4. Nowe, Franciscan
Church, crypt. Photo:
author
19 P. Crossley, Wells, tke West Country, pp 82-84; idem, Lincoln and Baltic, pp. 177-178.
20 Idem, Wells, tke West Country, p. 82-83; idem, Lincoln and Baltic, p. 179.
21 S. Becker-Hounslow, Malkork, pp. 381-396.
22 Cf.: H. Samsonowicz, Późne średniowiecze miast nadńałtyckicń. Stadia nad dzie/ami Hanzy
nad Bałtykiem wXlV-XV w., Warszawa 1968; P. Crossley,Lincoin and Baltic,pp. 178; M. Biskup,
G. Labuda, Dzie/e zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusack. Gospodarka - społeczeństwo - państwo -
ideologia, Gdańsk 1986, pp. 329-332; S. Becker-Hounslow, ALaińork, pp. 387-388.
The Influence of 13'^- and 14^-century English Architecture...
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