Inventory of works of art and artistic handicraft in the former Cistercian Monastery at Krzeszów

The complex of the former Cistercian Abbey at Krzeszów has a long history that dates back to the 13th century. Its heyday were the second half of the 17th and the 18th centuries, when refurbishments and expansions made it an important centre of Baroque, that attracted the then leading Silesian and Czech artists. On 31 May 1946, Benedictine sisters deported from the All Saints’ monastery in Lwów (Lviv) arrived at the abbey with their belongings. They noticed the need to record the works of art collected in the Krzeszów monastery. The inventory has been carried out by the Local Division of the National Heritage Board of Poland (NHBP) in Wrocław, since 2008. In December 2012, the first phase of the operation was concluded. Until then, 1006 items were registered, for which 710 records of movable historical items were established. The records, developed by the Local Division of the NHBP in Wrocław in the years 2008-2012, set the basis for three decisions to include in the register of historical monuments 416 works of art from both the Krzeszów and Lwów collections. Another such decision is currently being prepared. Previous decisions enabled the sisters to gain funds necessary to renovate the Baroque painting of St. Fortunate from the Lwów monastery church, as well as 12 portraits of Lwów prioresses. The developed records were disseminated in the scientific and museum communities, i.a. as an auxiliary material attached to a publication on Roman-Catholic churches and monasteries of the former Ruthenian Voivodeship. Works of art from the abbey were first displayed at the exhibitions “Glory of Krzeszów” („Blask Krzeszowa”) and „Ora et labora” at Kamienna Góra in 2010-2012. The inventory completed until now, covers works of art from the Cistercian and Benedictine collections. The planned second phase of operation will mainly address the items the Benedictine sisters managed to salvage, by bringing them to Krzeszów