DOI article:
Getka-Kenig, Mikołaj: Traktat Sebastiana Sierakowskiego a problem popularyzacji wiedzy architektonicznej w Księstwie Warszawskim
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44918#0111
“all the obstacles” were to be “removed” so that the propagation of architectural
knowledge among the society could be successfully carried out, with the support
of a stable government.80 It is worth noting at this point that Stanisław Kostka Po-
tocki was not an unimportant figurę in the Duchy of Warsaw, sińce he had held - as
Sierakowski himself stressed in the preface - the office of the president of central
administration bodies (the Council of Ministers and the Council of State), not to
mention his direct authority over the educational administration (the Chamber of
Education).81 Probably, therefore, praising one of the most powerful people in the
country for his former activities to the benefit of the dissemination of architectural
knowledge was not wholly unselfish, but was also meant to legitimize the idea of
their continuation during the period of “resurrection”. Potocki himself, it seems,
no longer had direct connections with Sierakowskis work on the treatise or its
publication during the Duchy ofWarsaw.82 That was most likely Sierakowskis own
initiative and undertaking, although it is worth noting that in 1802 Potocki, publicly
expressed an intention of writing a book (together with his cousin, Aleksander Po-
tocki, an expert in the field of farming and rural households), which would capture
the construction problem as broadly as Sierakowskis treatise did. This was his task
as part of his scientific work at the Warsaw Society of Friends of Learning (with
whom Sierakowski was not yet then connected).83 However, it ended with merely
a preliminary advertisement in the Society s “Annals”.
The finał form of the politicized introduction and the dedication were cer-
tainly heavily influenced by the particular moment in time when the publication
occurred. The specific datę of print completion can be determined, approximately,
between December 12 and 15,1812. The first of these dates accompanies the dedica-
tion to Frederick Augustus, whereas the second one was written by Sierakowski on
the copy which he handed over to the collections of the academic library in Kraków
on that day.84 Mid-December 1812 was a rather special moment, falling during the
so-called Second Polish War, in other words, Napoleons campaign against Russia,
which had lasted sińce June that year, and in which the troops of the Duchy of
Warsaw had participated. The Poles held great hopes as to its auspicious conclusion,
associated with the planned joining of the majority of the lands of the former Polish-
Eithuanian Commonwealth, placed under Russian rule as a result of the partitions,
with Napoleonie Poland. Moreover, in June of that year, when Napoleon crossed
the border of the Duchy with Russia, the rebuilding of the Kingdom of Poland was
proclaimed. Although it is true that on December 12,1812, the Great Army had
been in retreat for some time, this was not known to those remaining in Poland
due to delayed communication, and the Polish press was still supporting the spirit
of struggle and faith in victory. For example, on December 13, “Gazeta Krakowska”
80 Ibidem, p. iv.
81 Ibidem, p. i.
82 On the subject of the relationship between Sierakowski and Potocki at this time, see: J. Rudnicka,
Rola Stanisława Kostki Potockiego w polskim życiu kulturalnym, “Biuletyn Historii Sztuki”, 34,
1972, issue 1, p. 208.
83 Mowa na trzecim posiedzeniu Towarzystwa Warszawskiego Przyjaciół Nauk miana przez JX.
Jana Albertrandego biskupa zenopolitańskiego, prezesa tegoż Towarzystwa dnia isgo maja 1802
roku, “Roczniki Towarzystwa Warszawskiego Przyjaciół Nauk”, 1, [1802], p. 427.
84 See handwritten dedication by Sierakowski on a copy in the Jagiellonian Library, sign 119929 iv
(Mag. Oddz. Graf.).
Sebastian Sierakowskie treatise and the question of disseminating architectural knowledge... 109
knowledge among the society could be successfully carried out, with the support
of a stable government.80 It is worth noting at this point that Stanisław Kostka Po-
tocki was not an unimportant figurę in the Duchy of Warsaw, sińce he had held - as
Sierakowski himself stressed in the preface - the office of the president of central
administration bodies (the Council of Ministers and the Council of State), not to
mention his direct authority over the educational administration (the Chamber of
Education).81 Probably, therefore, praising one of the most powerful people in the
country for his former activities to the benefit of the dissemination of architectural
knowledge was not wholly unselfish, but was also meant to legitimize the idea of
their continuation during the period of “resurrection”. Potocki himself, it seems,
no longer had direct connections with Sierakowskis work on the treatise or its
publication during the Duchy ofWarsaw.82 That was most likely Sierakowskis own
initiative and undertaking, although it is worth noting that in 1802 Potocki, publicly
expressed an intention of writing a book (together with his cousin, Aleksander Po-
tocki, an expert in the field of farming and rural households), which would capture
the construction problem as broadly as Sierakowskis treatise did. This was his task
as part of his scientific work at the Warsaw Society of Friends of Learning (with
whom Sierakowski was not yet then connected).83 However, it ended with merely
a preliminary advertisement in the Society s “Annals”.
The finał form of the politicized introduction and the dedication were cer-
tainly heavily influenced by the particular moment in time when the publication
occurred. The specific datę of print completion can be determined, approximately,
between December 12 and 15,1812. The first of these dates accompanies the dedica-
tion to Frederick Augustus, whereas the second one was written by Sierakowski on
the copy which he handed over to the collections of the academic library in Kraków
on that day.84 Mid-December 1812 was a rather special moment, falling during the
so-called Second Polish War, in other words, Napoleons campaign against Russia,
which had lasted sińce June that year, and in which the troops of the Duchy of
Warsaw had participated. The Poles held great hopes as to its auspicious conclusion,
associated with the planned joining of the majority of the lands of the former Polish-
Eithuanian Commonwealth, placed under Russian rule as a result of the partitions,
with Napoleonie Poland. Moreover, in June of that year, when Napoleon crossed
the border of the Duchy with Russia, the rebuilding of the Kingdom of Poland was
proclaimed. Although it is true that on December 12,1812, the Great Army had
been in retreat for some time, this was not known to those remaining in Poland
due to delayed communication, and the Polish press was still supporting the spirit
of struggle and faith in victory. For example, on December 13, “Gazeta Krakowska”
80 Ibidem, p. iv.
81 Ibidem, p. i.
82 On the subject of the relationship between Sierakowski and Potocki at this time, see: J. Rudnicka,
Rola Stanisława Kostki Potockiego w polskim życiu kulturalnym, “Biuletyn Historii Sztuki”, 34,
1972, issue 1, p. 208.
83 Mowa na trzecim posiedzeniu Towarzystwa Warszawskiego Przyjaciół Nauk miana przez JX.
Jana Albertrandego biskupa zenopolitańskiego, prezesa tegoż Towarzystwa dnia isgo maja 1802
roku, “Roczniki Towarzystwa Warszawskiego Przyjaciół Nauk”, 1, [1802], p. 427.
84 See handwritten dedication by Sierakowski on a copy in the Jagiellonian Library, sign 119929 iv
(Mag. Oddz. Graf.).
Sebastian Sierakowskie treatise and the question of disseminating architectural knowledge... 109