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Stara Wiśniewka: church of St. Martin the Bishop

Date of construction: 1647

Splendid wall paintings in Stara Wisniewka will soon undergo conservation. Whilst looking at them from a short distance, one can spot many interesting details, mysterious dates and signatures among them.

Another interesting painting is in the side altar. It presents a dreadful scene of Christ’s death. How did the local artists imagine the death scene on the basis of prophecies?

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Stara Wiśniewka: church of St. Martin the Bishop

Another example of the theatrical character of a church interior (apart from Szaradowo and Wysoka) are paintings of the church in Stara Wiśniewka. An anonymous artist spread painted curtains held by numerous angels on walls. They uncover in the direction of the altar, symbolically inviting to participation in the mystery which is holy mass. Such an artistic manipulation must have caused unusual sensations of the locals of Stara Wiśniewka. In the modest church there was a spectacular and colourful polychromy which brought to mind rich palaces and theatres.

The chancery has been decorated in the most grand way: on the vault one can see Adam and Eve in an ornamental tondo (a round frame) and a fabric with a decorative crown, held by little angels.

On the walls there are images of saints (not identified yet), a dove and date: 1765.

Stara Wiśniewka: kościół pw. św. Marcina Biskupa

In the side altar a painting shows the scene of Crucifixion. Figures were painted in “stiff” poses, emotionless, in a bit clumsy way. However, the painting has lot of the folk sublime in it which is conveyed by dark clouds and red moon among others. The scene is connected with the prophecy of Joel: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come”. The tragic moment of Christ’s death in the imagination of the folk artist focused not only on his relatives: Mary, Saint. John and Mary Magdalene, but also the sun and the moon. The reveries, sadness and sorrow are visible on their faces.

The Gospel of St. Luke: „At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom”.

The furnishings of the church stands out by many folk motifs in vivid, contrasting colours. These are floral ornaments, angels and floral decorations among others.

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Stara Wiśniewka: church of St. Martin the Bishop

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