I have inscribed into the register of movable cultural property the ceramic mosaic Stigmatization of St. Francis by Jerzy Nowosielski from 1980, discovered in the territory of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Izabelin - said the heritage preservation officer for Masovian province, Prof. Jakub Lewicki. He explained the mosaic is very important for Polish culture and religious art.
"It represents artistic value both in terms of the composition, but also of Jerzy Nowosielski's piece bearing stylistic and iconographic features characteristic of the artist's work, but expressed by using a technique unusual for him. It also has a historic significance related mainly to the history of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Izabelin as well as Nowosielski's relationship with with the parish," prof. Lewicki explained.
Deemed as completely damaged
The Izabelin-Laski Parish was called into being in 1951 by Primate Stefan Wyszyński. It was there where in August 1980 Jerzy Nowosielski created the Stigmatization of St. Francis mosaic.
By the late 1980s, due to a use of a faulty technology, the mosaic had been gradually deteriorating until it was deemed completely damaged and then removed during the extension of the church.
"The discovery of its original parts makes it possible to update the oeuvre of this distinguished artist and deepen the studies on his work, which carries an additional scientific value of this artwork," the preservation officer stressed, adding that the mosaic is exceptionally significant not only for the region, but for the whole country.
Mosaic might return on the wall
In November 2022, the mosaic was found in the church attic and then moved to the parish buildings. Although nearly the whole composition has survived, it required conservation work. Prof. Lewicki said that, according to a preliminary expert opinion, the artwork qualifies to return on the church wall.
Jerzy Nowosielski composed the Stigmatization of St. Francis on August 6-20, 1980, on the front wall of the eastern nave of the church, left of the chancel. The work depicts a scene from the life of St. Francis of Assisi - the vision on Mount La Verna, as a result of which he received the stigmata of the Crucified.
The initial version of the mosaic was supposed to depict St. Francis on the top the hill next to a crucified six-winged seraph. In the end, however, the artist decided to extend the iconography of the scene by four figures located on the sides: Mother of God, John the Baptist, Clare of Assisi, and Anthony of Padua.
2023 - the year of Jerzy Nowosielski
The Polish Parliament has declared 2023 the year of Jerzy Nowosielski, whereas next year will mark 800 years since the stigmatization of St. Francis of Assisi.
Jerzy Nowosielski was a painter, set designer, and draftsman, as well as one of the most outstanding contemporary icon artists. His art constitutes a unique phenomenon that combines sacrum and profanum, and fuses Orthodox theology with secular reality.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: MWKZ