Wawel Castle and the Batory Chapel

Gothic Birth of the Virgin Mary Chapel (also known as St Mary’s or Batory Chapel – 3^rd quarter of the 14^th century)

Twice rebuilt in depth over the centuries, it is now a mixture of Gothic, manneristic and Baroque styles. Originally decorated with paintings by Ruthenian artists, it was transformed in 1594 and 1595 at the initiative of Anna Jagiellon in a manneristic spirit by the architect and sculptor Santi Gucci to become King Stefan Batory’s mausoleum. Another transformation took place in the middle of the 16^th century, funded by canon Wojciech Serebryski, when large amounts of black marble were introduced in its interior in a Baroque spirit. Conservation work performed in 2005 and 2006 was far-reaching and concerned the entire interior of chapel, including paintings and furnishings, as well as the three marble altars situated in the cathedral’s ambulatory and constituting an integral part of the chapel.

Team 
Team Leader: Prof. Ireneusz Płuska
Subcontractors: Ryszard Ochęduszko, MA; Grażyna Chromy-Rościszewska, MA; Lech Chwilczyński, MA; Wiesław Gurbiel, MA, Tomasz Bajorek, MA.
Laser cleaning: Prof. Jan Marczak from WAT

Title of the realization
Conservation of the sculptural decor of the interior of St Mary’s Chapel (Batory) at the Wawel Cathedral

Gallery:
1. Tombstone of King Stefan Batory. Detail. Condition before conservation.
2. Tombstone of King Stefan Batory. Condition after conservation.