DOI article:
Jaworski, Piotr: Antyk w Królikarni: architektura i zbiory artystyczne
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14537#0245
ANTYK W KRÓLIKARNI. ARCHITEKTURA I ZBIORY ARTYSTYCZNE
239
ANTIQUITY IN KRÓLIKARNIĄ. ARCHITECTURE AND ARTISTIC COLLECTIONS
(Summary)
The palace and garden complex of Warsaw's Królikarnią, built for an influential member of the Royal Court - count Karol
Tomatis - is recognised as one of the most important works of the Polish classicist architecture, erected during the reign of King
Stanisław August Poniatowski. A characteristic Palladio's profile of the palace and the building of the kitchen in form of a Roman
tomb of Caecilia Metella, built according to a design by Domenico Merlini - an architect connected with the King - are commonly
recognized as the symbols of the résidence. During over two hundred years of its history Królikarnią belonged in turn to the
aristocratie families of: Tomatis, Radziwiłł and Pusłowski. Inside the palace its owners gathered valuable artistic collections.
The artistic héritage of Antiquity influence of which - direct or through the Palladian's tradition - could be traced in the
layout of the palace and garden complex, was reflected mainly in the architecture of the kitchen building, and also in the ancient
or ancient-like décoration of both the kitchen and palace.
The building of the kitchen in Królikarnią, modelled on the tomb of Caecilia Metella, is a unique work of architecture and
has no equal predecessors in the architecture of European Classicism. The building offered architects a model worth emulating,
although it was its original location and surprising idea of placing the kitchen in an ancient tomb that made this building so popular
in Poland and even created a trend toward imitation of its Roman prototype. Anyway, only about few ancient buildings there could
be said - like in the case of the Caecilia Metella Tomb - that they made a career in the Polish architecture. In no other country had
the architecture of Capo di bove so many imitations.
In 1816 Królikarnią was chosen as the main résidence, in which they wanted to spend the last years of their life, by Michał
Hieronim Radziwiłł and Helena from the Przezdziecki family, the owners of Nieborów and Arkadia. They brought to the new place
their impressive artistic collections gathered previously - in which the Antiquity oceupied a spécial position - as well as fitting the
pałace with new objects making up a set of a spécifie décorative and symbolic significance including the replicas and imitations
of the ancient sculptures. After the death of the last governor {wojewoda) of Vilnius, Królikarnią became for his heirs a place of
gathering the precious Radziwiłłs' collections, including the part of the ancient or ancient-like furnishing of Arkadia. The activity
in Królikarnią of Alexandra Radziwiłł nee Stecka who ordered to place on the kitchen building the reduced inscription from the
tomb of Caecilia Metella directly referred not only to the ancient model but also to the tradition and history of Królikarnią and to
life and performance of Helena Radziwiłł.
Translated by Grażyna Waluga
239
ANTIQUITY IN KRÓLIKARNIĄ. ARCHITECTURE AND ARTISTIC COLLECTIONS
(Summary)
The palace and garden complex of Warsaw's Królikarnią, built for an influential member of the Royal Court - count Karol
Tomatis - is recognised as one of the most important works of the Polish classicist architecture, erected during the reign of King
Stanisław August Poniatowski. A characteristic Palladio's profile of the palace and the building of the kitchen in form of a Roman
tomb of Caecilia Metella, built according to a design by Domenico Merlini - an architect connected with the King - are commonly
recognized as the symbols of the résidence. During over two hundred years of its history Królikarnią belonged in turn to the
aristocratie families of: Tomatis, Radziwiłł and Pusłowski. Inside the palace its owners gathered valuable artistic collections.
The artistic héritage of Antiquity influence of which - direct or through the Palladian's tradition - could be traced in the
layout of the palace and garden complex, was reflected mainly in the architecture of the kitchen building, and also in the ancient
or ancient-like décoration of both the kitchen and palace.
The building of the kitchen in Królikarnią, modelled on the tomb of Caecilia Metella, is a unique work of architecture and
has no equal predecessors in the architecture of European Classicism. The building offered architects a model worth emulating,
although it was its original location and surprising idea of placing the kitchen in an ancient tomb that made this building so popular
in Poland and even created a trend toward imitation of its Roman prototype. Anyway, only about few ancient buildings there could
be said - like in the case of the Caecilia Metella Tomb - that they made a career in the Polish architecture. In no other country had
the architecture of Capo di bove so many imitations.
In 1816 Królikarnią was chosen as the main résidence, in which they wanted to spend the last years of their life, by Michał
Hieronim Radziwiłł and Helena from the Przezdziecki family, the owners of Nieborów and Arkadia. They brought to the new place
their impressive artistic collections gathered previously - in which the Antiquity oceupied a spécial position - as well as fitting the
pałace with new objects making up a set of a spécifie décorative and symbolic significance including the replicas and imitations
of the ancient sculptures. After the death of the last governor {wojewoda) of Vilnius, Królikarnią became for his heirs a place of
gathering the precious Radziwiłłs' collections, including the part of the ancient or ancient-like furnishing of Arkadia. The activity
in Królikarnią of Alexandra Radziwiłł nee Stecka who ordered to place on the kitchen building the reduced inscription from the
tomb of Caecilia Metella directly referred not only to the ancient model but also to the tradition and history of Królikarnią and to
life and performance of Helena Radziwiłł.
Translated by Grażyna Waluga