Popularyzacja zabytków ojczystych w grafice polskiej XIX wieku

The article addresses the issue of dissemination of knowledge about the national monuments of architecture through their printed images. This phenomenon was mostly developed in the 19th century when the interest in historic monuments, especially various buildings and their past, was stimulated by the popular in Europe fascination with history. This was particularly important in enslaved Poland. One form of visual dissemination of knowledge about important historic architecture of the country was the printmaking. Engravings became an efficient tool for education, providing a deeper understanding of the artistic culture of the country. At the same time they became helpful in any research of historical and iconographic type, as evidenced by a popular 19th-century phenomenon of creating graphic collections. Collecting of engravings, including views of historic native monuments, was particularly popular among aristocrats, intellectuals and artists. Popularization of Polish architectural heritage was made in a variety of ways. The recipient could come into contact with them through the so-called picturesque albums, illustrated magazines and publications promoting local heritage. An interesting and notable way of spreading the knowledge about Polish monuments were popular publications for pilgrims and devotional images. Educational nature of the above publications undoubtedly influenced Polish public awareness of importance and patriotic value of historic architecture. While analyzing a large iconographic material in the form of the 19th-century engravings depicting historic buildings the use of pattern becomes noticeable. Some monuments were more popular than others due to the frequent repetition of a particular theme by various artists or even copying the originals. Such practice resulted in a visual awareness of certain buildings in particular. It is worth mentioning that especially two albums: by Zygmunt Vogel and Jan Nepomucen Głowacki, provided constantly repeated in the 19th century patterns. The article emphasizes an enormous role of the 19th-century engravings in raising awareness and educating about historic monuments. The significant importance of graphic arts was the result of their main characteristic – the ability to produce multiple impressions of the same iconographic motifs. The 19-century studies of national monuments by early researchers and art lovers would not have received a wider response and social concern without the popularity of architectural images captured in prints.