Znaczenie antwerpskiej kompozycji Rubensa dla przedstawień Ofiarowania Jezusa na terenach Rzeczypospolitej

The scene depicting the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple was a rather popular image in Polish art in the 17th and 18th centuries due to the event being included among the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. It also appears as a stand alone scene, as well as in series illustrating events from the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. These representations could take the form of polychrome murals in churches, paintings ornamenting the choir, as well as other series of works of art. Artists often based their work on ready-made models. In the case of the scene depicting the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the most popular composition used as a model by Polish artists was undoubtedly the one executed in the first quarter of the 17th century by Peter Paul Rubens. He painted the scene on the side wing of a triptych housed in Antwerp Cathedral, although his drawing was also used to make a graphic version, the composition of which was expanded to include additional figures. The most convenient way of copying these models was by basing on prints which were published in large quantities, although the artists who made use of them often reduced the composition or made other changes which prevented a clear identification of a concrete model. In Poland, Rubens’ composition was used to ornament walls with polychrome paintings (Jarosław and Rzeszów), the backs of choirs (Koźliny, and to some extent Żarnowiec), paintings on canvas (KamieńKrajeński, Baranów, and Kazimierz Dolny), as well as in series of scenes associated with the Rosary (Kobylin), or for one of the scenes decorating the Feasts tier of an Iconostasis (Owczary). The Flemish master’s composition was popular in Polish art both in the 17th and 18th centuries.