Eglise paroissiale de Wlostowice

The view from Włostowice comes from an album depicting views of Puławy and the surrounding area, created based on illustrations made from nature by Barbara Czernof of Groten, who lectured at the Institute for the Education of Ladies. This is her only known and attributed work. The lithographs were made by Armande Cassagne, a French painter, watercolourist, lithographer and writer at the printing works of Auguste Bry in Paris.

The graphic print depicts the facade of St Joseph's Church amidst an avenue of black poplars. People crowding in front of the gate and banners depict the celebration of the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (French: Fête-Dieu - signature under the lithograph). The atmosphere of this village at the beginning of the 20th century is described in the words of Father Karol Dębiński: "The journey through Włostowice, unless, reader, you belong to the guild of cyclists, is not too arduous, for you are riding or walking constantly among clean houses, surrounded by gardens full of roses and fruit orchards, under the shade of old spreading trees".

Włostowice is a former village, currently part of Puławy. It was owned by the Tęczyńskis, Lubomirskis and Czartoryskis. The latter, caring for education, also established folk schools here. The church of St. Joseph located there was founded by Elżbieta Sieniawska. It is a building designed by Franciszek Antoni Meyer, representing the Baroque style. It was built in 1717-1728 in place of the church destroyed by the Swedes in 1706. In the meantime, tragic events took place in the village. i.e. a plague in 1708 and a drought in 1715 resulting in famine.

After the death of Countess Zofia of Matuszewicz Kicka, a relative of Prince Adam Czartoryski, Princess Izabella started several foundations in Włostowice e, which the countess, who died prematurely of a lung disease, wanted to take care of. These included male and female schools, the decoration of a cemetery and a church. For Kicka the Duchess founded a cross in Puławy, moved in the 19th century to the Włostowice cemetery, called the Kicka Cross. The Czartoryski family also took care of the church furnishings, funded the rococo font and oil paintings by Kazimierz Woyniakowski with images of the Holy Family, St Teresa of Avila and St Barbara; the last two were posed by Maria and Zofia Czartoryska. In the side altars, there are paintings of Christ Carrying the Cross and the Mother of God Feeding, painted by Zofia Matuszewicz Kicka.

Klara Sadkowska