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Copy of a painting of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, 1931, M. Kulesza, church in Nečujam, photo Bartłomiej Gutowski, 2023
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0, Source: Fundacja Akcja Kultura, Conditions d\'autorisation
Photo montrant A copy of the painting of Our Lady of the Dawn Gate and a plaque dedicated to Jozef Pilsudski at the Adriatic Sea
Plaque commemorating Józef Piłsudski in Rogač (Croatia)
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0, Source: Fundacja Akcja Kultura, Conditions d\'autorisation
Photo montrant A copy of the painting of Our Lady of the Dawn Gate and a plaque dedicated to Jozef Pilsudski at the Adriatic Sea
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ID: POL-001783-P

A copy of the painting of Our Lady of the Dawn Gate and a plaque dedicated to Jozef Pilsudski at the Adriatic Sea

ID: POL-001783-P

A copy of the painting of Our Lady of the Dawn Gate and a plaque dedicated to Jozef Pilsudski at the Adriatic Sea

In 1932 a chapel was built near the Polish House on Šolta Island in Nečujam. The city of Vilnius funded a copy of the painting of the Dawn Gate Mother of God for the chapel, probably painted in 1931. "A copy of the miraculous painting of the Dawn Gate Mother of God, made by the artist M. Kulesza, was blessed in the Dawn Gate Chapel by His Eminence Bishop Władysław Bandurski". Such information can be found on a leaflet calling for support for the construction of the chapel, published in September 1931. On the back of the painting, a silver plaque commemorates the donation made by the city of Vilnius ("Dziennik Bydgoski", 17 September 1932, No. 214, p. 4).

The handing over of the painting took place on 8 September 1932 and had an extremely solemn character. As the 'Dziennik Wileński' reported, the event was attended by about 70 Poles who had specially sailed to the island, as well as representatives of the Yugoslav authorities and residents of the island. When the ship with the copy of the painting arrived on the island and the guests were greeted by local people and an orchestra, there was also an honour salute from cannons. The image was then carried in a solemn procession to the chapel. The chairman of the chapel building committee, Professor Tadeusz Hilarowicz, and a representative of the Bishop of Split, and finally the local parish priest, spoke at the ceremony. The painting was then carried into the chapel, where a solemn mass was held. During it, the banner of the Order of Bolesław Chrobry was also consecrated.

After the ceremony, Mrs Jadwiga Hilarewicz presented the local parish priest, Father M. Bezićow, with two other gifts for the church in Gronhota: a gift from the Poor Clares Monastery in Stary Sącz - a painting of St Kinga, and a painting of Blessed Salomea - a gift from St Andrew's Monastery in Krakow.

As the press reported, a document attached to the painting stated that the author of the copy was the Vilnius painter Michał Kulesza. Some doubt arises here. It is true that the painter and lithographer Michał Kulesza was active in Vilnius, but he died in 1863, and according to a press release, not only the Vilnius bishop, mayor and parish priest, but also the artist himself, signed the document. In the 1930s, however, another artist named Kulesza - Marian - was active in Vilnius. It is possible, therefore, that the name Kulesza was identified with a more famous artist of the 19th century, and that this error was later reproduced (the transfer of the painting was also reported in the Vilnius Journal No. 231, September 19, 1932). However, this hypothesis would require further verification and, above all, the finding of the document handed over with the painting.

According to tradition, the crowns and decorative frames of the painting were to be made by Marian Niewiadomski, a goldsmith from Vilnius.

On the same day, another ceremony took place on the island, the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Józef Piłsudski in the Polish House. In the Illustrated Republic (No. 16, 16 January 1933, p. 3), the administrator of the house, Władysława Nazarewska, exaggeratedly wrote about the ceremony: 'The celebration gave the Yugoslav public in Dalmatia an opportunity to express their feelings for Poland and for Marshal Piłsudski as one of the greatest historical figures in the history of Slavs in general. The celebration was the most splendid Polish-Yugoslav manifestation yet seen in Dalmatia [...] Moreover, the local population set up a dozen or so triumphal gates, decorated with Polish and Yugoslav flags, through which a procession of participants in the celebration passed."

The painting is still housed today in the former chapel, which is now a church. In 2019, through the efforts of the Polish Society "Polonez" from Split, it underwent conservation. The plaque, in turn, fearing destruction by the Germans, was placed in the local church, where it has also been preserved to this day and has also undergone restoration.

Related persons:
Time of origin:
1931
Creator:
M. Kulesza (malarz, Wilno)
Keywords:
Author:
Bartłomiej Gutowski
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