Ludowa rzeźba drewniana w wyposażeniu warmińskich kapliczek i krzyży dawniej i dziś

Abstract

In the past, the wayside shrines and crosses in Warmia were commonly equipped with wooden rustic sculptures. For their better exposure, various architectural forms of the shrine constructions were used. However due to numerous factors, the sculptures of the Saints have not survived in their natural place. Such conclusion is springing to mind after full area and archives research. Having confronted the shrines' present state with the past, substantial loss in resources have been acknowledged. Out of 1370 wayside shrines only 69 contained a sculpture. As a result, only these sculptures, which were earlier documented and still in existence in situ, represent the only source of knowledge regarding the Warmia history, its community and culture. The origin of the sculptures is owed to frequently anonymous, local artists, who fulfilled particular social and personal orders. They used specific iconography models. One can distinguish iconography motives regarding the Christ, Holy Mary and the Saints in wooden, rustic sculptures. The most frequent motive of the sculptures regards, however, Holy Mary, with a very characteristic for Warmia – Pietà.