Nativity scene
1982
National Museum in Lublin
Part of the collection: Folk Art of the Lublin Region (17th–1st half of the 20th c.)
The first sculpture created in Łuków folk sculpture centre was Sorrowful Christ created by Marian Adamski (1929-2007) from Sobiska. He was inspired by the works of his brother-in-law, Henryk Wierzchowski, a well-known sculptor from the Sierpc area of Masovia. His sons Zenon (1952-2012) and Tadeusz (born in 1956), as well as distant relatives and neighbours, including: Tadeusz Cąkała, Ryszard Sęk, Wacław, Stanisław and Bolesław Suskowie, Bronisław Chojęta, Tadeusz Lemieszek, Marian Łubianka, Mieczysław Zawadzki, Stanisław Fotyga, Adam Wydra, Mieczysław Gaja. Each of the sculptors has developed his or her own style and individual way of shaping figures or scenes. Their sculptures are characterised by a variety of themes and rich polychromy. The sculptors' wives often painted their sculptures: Helena Adamska (Marian's wife), Kazimiera Adamska (Zenon's wife), Elżbieta Adamska (Tadeusz's wife), Marianna Sęk, Adela Chojęta, Halina Lemieszek, Elżbieta Łubianka, Hanna Fotyga, Jadwiga Wydra, with time some started sculpting themselves.
Under the chisels of sculptors from Łukków there arose and still exists full figures and bas-reliefs of religious and secular themes. The favourite themes are the following: Christ (Sorrowful, Crucified, King, In the Garden of Olives), Pieta, patron saints (Agnes, Barbara, Veronica, Teresa, Peter, Paul, Joseph), biblical figures and scenes (Adam and Eve in Paradise, Annunciation, Christmas, Escape of the Holy Family, Baptism in the Jordan, Way of the Cross, Last Judgement) and historical figures (Stefan Batory, John III Sobieski, Nicolaus Copernicus, Bolesław Prus). The output of each artist includes genre scenes from everyday life and Christmas cribs in the form of sculpture or bas-relief, but also spatial house compositions. Among the smaller forms, prepared for fairs and markets, there are birds, animals and flowers.
Works of sculptors from the area of Wola Gułowska and Łuków were appreciated at competitions, and the works presented at exhibitions in Poland and abroad enriched the museum's collection of folk sculpture. Several artists - Marian Adamski, Bolesław and Wacław Suskowie, Mieczysław Gaja and Mieczysław Zawadzki - have been honoured with the oldest and most important award in the field of traditional culture in Poland, the Oskar Kolberg Award.
Author / creator
Dimensions
cały obiekt: height: 70 cm, width: 56 cm
Object type
sculpture
Technique
polychromy
Material
wood, straw
Creation time / dating
Creation / finding place
Owner
The National Museum in Lublin
Identification number
Location / status
1982
National Museum in Lublin
1901 — 1920
National Museum in Lublin
1901 — 1920
National Museum in Lublin
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