There is money for further restoration of the Aula Leopoldinum

In order to receive funds for the next stages of work in the Aula, the Foundation for UWr, which is the entity responsible for carrying out the comprehensive conservation of the Aula, had to take part in the competition for realisation a public task “Activities in the Field of the Cultural Property and National Heritage Protection”, which was announced by the president of Wrocław in December, 2017. The Municipality of Wrocław allocated over PLN 10 million from its budget for this purpose. As many as 46 offers were submitted to the competition, 44 of which met the formal requirements. At the meeting on 8 February, the competition committee chaired by Agata Chmielowska, the City’s Historic Preservation Officer of Wrocław, decided to award 34 grants for a total amount of nearly PLN 6 million. The Foundation for UWr received the highest subsidy of PLN 800 thousand [see the competition results].

The Foundation for the University of Wrocław – and indirectly the University of Wrocław – is the largest beneficiary of municipal funds when it comes to funds allocated to cultural heritage preservation. This year’s subsidy is the fourth one. The previous ones, awarded in other editions of the same competition (2015-2017), came to nearly PLN 3 million. The money from these grants enabled to reinforce the construction of the ceiling (2015), to carry out the comprehensive conservation of the dais (2016), and to renovate the vaults above the matroneum (2017). [see the work schedule].

Eight oil paintings on canvas, which measure 133cm x 110cm and are put in ornate oval frames above the backs of the lodges, will also be renovated. These paintings depict rulers and dignitaries of the Jesuit order, their arrival in Wrocław and the foundation and development of the university. Originally, in the first two paintings from the east and west, one could notice church dignitaries. The paintings next to the podium portrayed two popes – Urban VIII and Clement XII. The ones next to the matroneum depict the former bishop of Wrocław – cardinal Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf and the fifteenth Superior General of the Society of Jesus – Franz Retz. The four central portraits present secular rulers. Because of that, these paintings are put in the frames topped with crowns. For political reasons, paintings were often replaced. In total, thirteen characters were portrayed in eight frames. All in all, nineteen paintings were made. The first ones were probably hung in the Aula at the end of 1732. Unfortunately, the author of the first cycle remains unknown. It is also uncertain what has happened to those paintings that were removed and replaced in the 18th century. For sure, they are no longer in the Aula. The collection that currently adorns the walls of the auditorium consists of two originals (the first two of the south side of the matroneum) and six replicas made after the audacious theft in June, 1997.

The restoration of the eight lodges together with wooden platforms (exclusive of the platforms in the window niches) will definitely be a challenge. The lodges are the two seater benches with high backs framed on the sides by volutes and topped with ornamental cartouches, which constitute the frames of oil paintings. The fronts of the benches and the backs are covered in panels. Originally, the first four lodges from the south (from the side of the pl.Universytecki) were intended for the Philosophy Faculty professors, and the ones on the north side (from Oder) were reserved for the representatives of the Theology Faculty. These lodges, which come from 1732, and all the other wooden elements of the furnishing, at the beginning of the 20th century underwent a major restoration. Some parts, however, had to be removed and replaced. According to the authors of the “Study of the Decor and Furnishing of the Aula Leopoldinum” (2008) it has to be assumed that all the seats in the Aula faithfully follow the layout and the form of the original benches but most of them was made during the renovation carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. How many parts of the lodges were replaced? Only the restoration will provide the answer.