The mannerist architecture and sculpture in Poland have two major traditions – Polish/Italian and Dutch/Flemish, that dominated in northern Poland.[1] The Silesian mannerism of South-Western Poland was largely influenced by Bohemian and German mannerism, while the Pomeranian mannerism of North-Western Poland was influenced by Gothic tradition and Northern German mannerism. The Jews in Poland adapted patterns of Italian and Polish mannerism to their own tradition.[2] The mannerist complex of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and mannerist City of Zamość are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Triangle gables of late Gothic origin and large windows are the features of Dutch urban architecture in Northern Poland. Among notable architects and sculptors of Dutch/Flemish mannerism in Poland were Anthonis van Obbergen, Willem van den Blocke, Abraham van den Blocke, Jan Strakowski, Paul Baudarth, Gerhard Hendrik, Hans Kramer and Regnier van Amsterdam.
| Place | Building | Date of construction | Style and history | Image |
| Church of the Assumption of Mary | 1582–1645 | Polish mannerism. Maybe intentionally or maybe because it was built by the same workshop, the church resemble Gothic churches in the city. Despite the medieval form the traditional Gothic elements - ogival arches, traceries and pinnacles were replaced with semi-circular arches and more subtle stonework. The buttresses remain, but gables were decorated in mannerist style with volutes.[3] The Wojciech Łochowski's Chapel, built adjacent to the church in 1646, was decorated with typical horizontal attic. | ||
| Town Hall | 1567–1572 | Dutch/Polish mannerism. The original building was built in 1298. The tower was added between 1584-1596.[4] Architecture of the building had many influences - horizontal attic embellished with volutes is characteristic for Polish mannerism, the elevated gables and soaring windows are in Dutch style and tower decorated with corner rustication is typical for similar structures in Germany. | ||
| Granary | first half of the 17th century | Dutch/Polish mannerism. The current building replaced an earlier Gothic granary. The windows were decorated with a motive of a grain sack.[5] The city was one of the largest centres of grain trade in Poland.[6] In the 17th century, during the greatest bloom of the grain trade, there were over 100 granaries in the city. They were built of brick, and since the 17th century they were plastered. | ||
| St. George's Parish House | first half of the 17th century | Dutch mannerism. The construction of the building is Gothic, only the upper part have mannerist decoration. Facade of the house represents typical for Dutch mannerism decoration with ferrule ornament and merge of stone and brick elements. The top of the house is decorated with the Pomeranian Griffin.[7] | ||
| Włocławek Cathedral - Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 1604–1611 | Polish mannerism. Originally built in 1503, it was reconstructed in the mannerist style by bishop Jan Tarnowski.[8] The architecture of the chapel, though inspired by Sigismund's Chapel was adapted and transformed according to Dutch patterns. The dome was hidden behind the balustrade and the walls were covered with a subtle corner rustication. | ||
| Place | Building | Date of construction | Style and history | Image |
| 1642 | Jewish mannerism. The synagogue was built to replace wooden building. Late renaissance interior is decorated with Hebrew inscription and frescos.[9] The building was covered with a late baroque mansard roof in the 18th century. | |||
| Place | Building | Date of construction | Style and history | Image |
| Gdańsk | 1616–1618 | Dutch mannerism (architect Abraham van den Blocke), originally built in about 1350.[10] | ||
| English House | 1568–1570 | Flemish/Southern German mannerism (architect Hans Kramer). It was built for Dirk Lylge. The facade was decorated in Flemish style by Willem Jacobsen of Brussels.[11] Between 1640-1690 part of the house was rented by English merchants. | ||
| Ferber House | 1560 | Dutch mannerism. It was built for the city mayor Constantin Ferber. The attic is decorated with coat of arms of Poland, Gdańsk and Royal Prussia and four sculptures.[12] Constantin Feber was prisoned in Łowicz by king Stephen Báthory because of his support for Archduke Maximilian during the 1575 election and rebellion against the king.[13] | ||
| Golden House | 1609–1618 | Dutch mannerism (architect Abraham van den Blocke).[14] Built for Johann Speymann, a wealthy grain trader and mayor of the city, and his wife Judith Bahr. The attic is decorated with sculptures depicting Cleopatra, Oedipus, Achilles and Antigone by Johann Vogt of Rostock. | ||
| Golden Gate | 1612–1614 | Dutch mannerism (constructed by Jan Strakowski to design by Abraham van den Blocke).[15] The attic was adorned with allegorical sculptures of citizen's virtues: Peace, Liberty, Fortune and Fame (west side), Harmony, Justice, Piety and Prudence (east side). They were carved in 1648 by Peter Ringering to Jeremias Falck's design. | ||
| 1564–1568 | Flemish mannerism, inspired by the Antwerp City Hall (architect Regnier van Amsterdam). It was built to serve as the formal residence of the Polish monarchs.[16] | |||
| Highland Gate | 1586–1588 | Dutch/Flemish mannerism, inspired by Sint-Jorispoort in Antwerp (architect Wilhelm van den Blocke).[17] The frieze was adorned with coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (center), Gdańsk and Royal Prussia. | ||
| Lion Castle | 1569 | Dutch mannerism (architect - probably Hans Kramer). Built for the Schwartzwalds family. The facade was adorned by Vroom of Haarlem.[18] The house was named after two lion sculptures decorating the main portal.[19] In 1636 king Władysław IV Vasa was entertained in the house during his visit to the city. Today it houses the Russian Centre of Science and Culture. | ||
| 1617 | Dutch mannerism (design by Abraham van den Blocke).[20] The fountain was founded by the city councillors at Barthell Schachtmann's initiative.[21] The Neptune's statue was cast in Augsburg by Peter Husen and Johann Rogge. In 1634 the fountain was encompassed by a fence decorated with gilded Polish Eagles, also designed by Abraham van den Blocke. | |||
| Old Arsenal | 1602–1605 | Dutch/Flemish mannerism (architects Anthonis van Obbergen, Jan Strakowski and Abraham van den Blocke).[22] | ||
| Research Society House | 1597–1599 | Dutch mannerism (architect Anthonis van Obbergen).[23] Built for Hans Köpe. The house is one of the largest mannierist constructions in Gdańsk (30m height). The main feature is 37m high tower with richly decorated lantern. In 1846 the house was purchased by Danzig Research Society. | ||
| Schumann House | 1560 | Flemish mannerism. Built for Hans Conert the Younger by unknown architect. The building was known at that time as the King's House.[24] The top of the house is decorated with the sculpture of Zeus. Schumann House's architecture bears strong resemblance to Gildehuis der Kuipers (Coopers' House) and to Huis van de Schutters (Archer's House) in Antwerp. | ||
| Schlüter House | 1638–1640 | Dutch mannerism/baroque (architect Andreas Schlüter the Elder, father of Andreas Schlüter). Built for Hans van Enden. The facade is decorated with floral motives and medallions with effigies of Alexander the Great, Heracles, two Polish kings Sigismund III Vasa and Władysław IV Vasa, knights, thinkers and representatives of various human races. | ||
| St. Mary's Church - Epitaph of Edward Blemke | 1591 | Dutch mannerism (sculptor Willem van den Blocke).[25] The central relief depicts the resurrection in the Valley of Josaphat according to prophet Ezekiel's vision (the dynamic of skeletons' transformation from bones to corpse is exceptional). The epitaph was crowned with a sculpture of death. Inspiration were epitaphs by Cornelis Floris - the construction bears resemblance to Epitaph of Dirk van Assendelft and his wife Adriana van Nassau in Grote Kerk in Breda (1555). | ||
| Town Hall | 1559–1561 | Dutch mannerism. The original 15th-century structure was reconstructed after a fire that broke out in 1556. In 1561 a gilded statue of King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland was installed on a pinnacle of rebuilt tower.[26] | ||
| Oliwa Cathedral - Kos Tomb | 1599–1620 | Dutch mannerism (sculptor Willem van den Blocke). Established by Mikołaj Kos, landlord in Żukczyn.[27] Mikołaj and his son Andrzej were depicted wearing armours of Polish hussars. | ||
| 1580–1587 | Pomeranian mannerism (architect Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus).[28] The original castle (built in 1507 by duke Bogislaw X) was rebuilt in the mannerist style for duke John Frederick by Italian stonemasons. The new model of the residence with a staircase in the tower adjacent to the elongated rectangular building was later adopted in many noble residencies in the region. | |||
| Place | Building | Date of construction | Style and history | Image |
| St. Andrew's Church - Báthory Tomb | 1598 | Dutch mannerism (sculptor Willem van den Blocke with participation of his son Abraham).[29] The tomb was established by cardinal Andrew Báthory to commemorate himself and his brother Balthasar. It feature the cardinal kneeling in the upper part of the tomb, while his brother was depicted sleeping in the lower part. The cardinal was newer buried in his tomb because he was murdered at Pásztorbükk near Sândominic shortly after becoming Prince of Transylvania. | ||
| Place | Building | Date of construction | Style and history | Image |
| Podewils Castle | c. 1580 | German mannerism. The castle was erected for Felix von Podewils to replace an earlier 15th-century fortress.[30] It was built on a rectangular plan with four side towers. The architecture of the castle bears strong resemblance to Schloss Ahrensburg (1569–1585). | ||
| 1600 | German mannerism. The mannerist western wing of the Gothic castle was established by Matthias von Borck.[31] It was adorned with richly decorated gable, dormers and chimneys. The walls were covered with subtle rustication and divided by cornices and windows. | |||
| 1573−1582 | Pomeranian mannerism (architect Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus). The original castle (built in 1346 by duke Barnim the Great) was rebuilt in the late renaissance style for duke John Frederick.[32] | |||
| Tuczyński Castle | before 1581 | Dutch/Polish mannerism. The castle was built for Stanisław Tuczyński and decorated with sgraffito imitating rustication.[33] The decoration of gables and window bands (scrollwork) are typical for Dutch mannerism. | ||