Historia Ophthalm Intern VOL II Histoph Layout

Hist Ophthal Intern 2017, Vol.2: 61-72 61 The spectacles in Polish iconography from the 16th till 17th century. Lech Bieganowski, MD.,PhD. Summary Spectacles presented in iconography are important source providing reliable evidence of their actual appearance. Moreover, they make it possible to define the exact time of the introduction of this invention in a given culture. Iconographic evidence proving the existence of spectacles in Poland occur relatively late, namely in the 16th century. The article presents the images of spectacles from the 16th till 17th century in Poland. They can be found in various iconographic sources: books, woodcuts, sacral and secular paintings or frescoes. Due to the fact, that information concerning iconographic sources on spectacles has been scattered so far in various papers and monographies, it is gathered in this article. It must be underlined that several reproductions presented in the article have not been discussed in any paper devoted to the history of spectacles in Poland yet. The above-mentioned concerns the masterpieces of such painters as Michael Lancz from Kitzingen (Dormition of the Mother of God), Pieter Aersten (Christian charities), Martinus Claeszoon van Reymerswale (Tax collectors), and Michael Willmann (Self-portrait in Glasses, Saint Joseph gives name to Jesus) Key words: spectacles, iconography, painting, woodcuts, books, frescoes, XVI-XVII century, Poland Iconography is an immensely In Poland, iconographical source important source which provides a great deal materials appeared relatively late i.e. in the of invaluable information about the history 16th century. Information on glasses featured of material culture. This statement also in art pieces in the area of Poland is scattered concerns such artefacts as spectacles. The over numerous publications and, what is iconographical evidence allows to confront more, it is not particularly abundant. information about spectacles known from Therefore, in this publication it has been other sources, preserved genuine items or the decided that the presentation of images of existing descriptions of such items with real glasses will be done in chronological order images of these optical aids as depicted by according to the time of creation of the art artist painters. Painting is an undeniably rich pieces. This work will contain depictions of source of knowledge in this respect. Apart glasses found on woodcut relief prints on the from objects in the form of paintings, images covers of books printed by renowned printing of glasses can be also found in books, code houses, as well as those which served as books, song-books, or guild books. This type illustrations of scientific books. Moreover, it of sources appeared in western Europe will include reproductions of fragments relatively early as the first paintings which depict spectacles in religious paintings depicting persons wearing glasses appeared and frescos or lay prints found in Poland. as early as the beginning of the second half of Some of these art pieces were created by the 14th century(i) Polish painters, while others are by well- known Dutch or German painters, still others In their art pieces, painters tended to are works of anonymous artists. Some of portray figures of clergy, saints, scholars, these iconographical artefacts were created wise men and other respected, frequently in Poland, some appeared in the country as a elderly, characters as those wearing glasses. result of World War II, other exhibits are It is evident that this kind of presentations property of museums. has been a frequent cause of anachronisms which can be found in most of the paintings Supposedly, the first depiction of of that time. spectacles in Poland is the publication entitled Epithoma utriusquae musices by Stephanus Monetarius issued by Florian Lech Bieganowski, MD.,PhD. Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz Ungler printing house in 1515 (Fig. 1, page 63). Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń The cover of the publication bears a woodcut Poland relief print. Under the title there is a printed [email protected] 62 image of a choir consisting of six men. In the The museum in Kielce can boast center of the group there is a bespectacled another beautiful painting by Michael Lancz man holding sheets of musical notation. The of Kitzingen (titled Dormition of the Mother glasses have a characteristic acute- angle of God). The museum currently houses his nose bridge to which two separate lens masterpiece depicting an identical scene as frames are attached. These are so-called rivet the one mentioned above i.e. (titled Virgin spectacles(ii). The distance between the Mary Falling Asleep). The painting was framed lenses can be adjusted, which allows previously housed for many years in Saint some of the spectacles of this type to remain Wojciech's Church in Kielce. The composition mounted on the nose. of the piece, also created in 1525, bears a close resemblance to the scene from the It is noteworthy that this woodcut Wawel altar tryptych. Similarly, the painting relief print had a removable title wood block depicts two apostles kneeling over an open which could be replaced with another one book to the left of the Mother of God's bed. bearing a different inscription. In this simple One can see beautifully painted bow way, various publications could be printed spectacles lying on the open book.(Fig.9, p.64) with the same ornament and different titles (Fig.2 and Fig.3 - page 63). That was the case with The fact that Michael Lancz included the publication of Opusculum musice two figures with spectacles in the altar compilatum by Sebastian of Felstin dated paintings of bishop Jan Konarski at Wawel from 1518. A similar technique, taking Cathedral has been noted in the literature of advantage of the same woodcut print, was the subject[6]. Another depiction of eyeglasses used when publishing Opusculum musice in the aformentioned painting by Michael mensuralis in 1534 [1-4]. Lancz confirms the sugestion that this inclination resulted from the undeniable Another example connected with the relations of the artist with the city of depiction of spectacles as a specific object are Nürnberg which was a significant center of spectacles production at the time [6]. It must the outstanding pieces of art by Michael be stressed that the literature devoted to the Lancz of Kitzingen [5]. The painted scene of history of spectacles has, as yet, not from the Virgin Mary Falling Asleep mentioned this painting, although it has been tombstone chapel of bishop Jan Konarski in a subject of an M.A. thesis [7]. the Wawel Cathedral in Cracow dates back to 1525. In the painting, located in the right Another painting presented in this hand side of the altar, to the Virgin Mary's left, work dates from before 1546 and was created two Apostles are kneeling (presumably Saint by Marinus Claeszoon van Reymerswaele(v). Peter and Saint Paul) bent over an open book, The painting is entitled Tax collectors one of whom is using bow spectacles with a (fig.10,p.65). The central figure of the picture is characteristic curving bridge (Figs.4 & 5). wearing a meticulously painted attire and is using bow spectacles which remain mounted In this type of spectacles the lens on his nose. It is noteworthy that this frames are connected by a gently curving painting has not been mentioned in any bridge. The bridge resembles a bow (hence its Polish works devoted to the history of name) forming a single firm piece together spectacles(vi). with the lenses(iii). Another example of spectacles depiction can be found on a Before the Second World War very painting located on the external side of one of interesting frescos were discovered in Lublin the altar wings(iv). The artist painted there a in the Lubomelski townhouse (at Rynek 8), portrait of kneeling Saint Ambrose wearing in the so-called wine house. The name of the glasses [5]. author of these murals remains unknown, however, it is supposed that the painter came However, the way this portrait was from the painting school of German masters. painted makes it impossible to identify the The restoration works were halted by the type of spectacles frames. Nevertheless, one outbreak of the war. Professor J. Dutkiewicz may presume that, again, these are bow again mentioned those pieces of art by spectacles (Figs. 6 & 7, p. 64). pointing out that they date back to the second half of the 16th century [8]. 63 Fig.1. Stephanus Monetarius: Fig.2. Sebastian de Felstin: Opusculum Fig.3 Sebastian de Felstin: Opusculum Epithoma utriusquae musices, musice compilatum, Florian Ungler musice mensuralis, Florian Ungler Florian Ungler Printing House in Printing House in Cracow, 1518; owner: Printing House in Cracow, 1534; owner: Cracow, 1515. Princes’s Czartoryski Foundatiom in Princes’s Czartoryski Foundatiom in Cracow (własność: Fundacja XX. Czartoryskich w Photo Laboratory of the Department of Old Cracow (własność: Fundacja XX. Czartoryskich w Prints at Jagiellonian Library in Cracow Krakowie) Krakowie) Fig. 4 Michael Lancz of Kitzingen: Virgin Mary Falling Fig. 5 Asleep. A painting from the altar reredos in the tomb Fragment of the painting chapel of bishop Jan Konarski at the Wawel Cathedral, from Fig.4. dating from 1525. Currently, the altar is housed at the Photo Laboratory of the National National Museum in Cracowin, bishop Erazm Ciołek´s Museum in Cracow. Palace. Photo Laboratory of the National Museum in Cracow. 64 Fig.6 Micheal Lancz of Kitzingen 1525. Portrait of St. Fig.7 Fragment of the painting from Fig.6. Ambrose from the side wing of the altar in the tomb chapel Photo Laboratory of the National Museum in Cracow. of bishop Jan Konarski at Wawel Cathedral. Currently, the altar is housed at the National Museum in Cracow in Bishop Erazm Ciołek's Palace.

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