- Visitationist Church
Infobox Historic building
caption=Visitationist Church.
name=Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists
location_town=Warsaw
location_country=Poland
architect=Karol Antoni Bay
client=
engineer=
construction_start_date=1664
completion_date=1761
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
style=Baroque|"Kościół Opieki św. Józefa w Warszawie" or "Kościół Wizytek w Warszawie" (Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists) is a
Roman Catholic church inWarsaw ,Poland , situated at "Krakowskie Przedmieście 34". One of the most notablerococo churches in Poland's capital, its construction was begun in 1664 and completed in 1761.History
The first wooden church was established in
1651 by Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga de Nevers for the French Order of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This church was burned down by the Swedes during the Deluge in 1656.pl icon cite book | author = | coauthors = | title = Warszawa w latach 1526-1795 | year =1984 | editor = Stefan Kieniewicz | pages = | chapter = | chapterurl = | publisher = | location =Warsaw | id =ISBN 83-01033-23-1 | url = | format = | accessdate = ]In 1664 the Visitationists started to build a new oblong church. The first stone was laid by primate
Wacław Leszczyński . This unfinished church burned in 1695. After the fire, the church was restored again. The new foundation was made in 1728 by a stateswoman Elżbieta Sieniawska following the plan of her private architect Karol Antoni Bay. The structural work was finished in 1761. The finishing touch was finally given in 1765.The church's main claim to fame, in Polish eyes, is that
Fryderyk Chopin used to play the church organ here, mainly during services for schoolchildren. [en icon cite web | author=Frederick Niecks | title=Frederick Chopin, as a Man and Musician | publisher= | year= | work=Project Gutenberg | url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4681 | accessdate=2008-02-12]In front of this late-baroque church stands a statue of Cardinal
Stefan Wyszyński , [pl icon cite web | author= | title=Kościół sióstr wizytek | publisher= | year= | work=dziedzictwo.ekai.pl | url=http://www.dziedzictwo.ekai.pl/@@warszawa_kosciol_siostr_wizytek | accessdate=2008-02-12] primate of Poland from 1948 to 1981.Interior
The nave with main altar and 6 side chapels in Baroque style are embellished with rich
Rococo decorations. There is an impressive and unique pulpit in a shape of boat and also a lot of old sculptures, paintings by old Polish, Italian and French masters (including "Saint Louis de Gonzaga" byDaniel Schultz ), portraits of famous and noble Poles and tabernacle made of ebony and silver. This exceptional tabernacle, which initially was placed in the chapel of Villa Regia Palace inWarsaw , was donated to the church by Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga de Nevers in 1654.pl icon cite web | author=Juliusz Chrościcki | title=Kościół Wizytek | publisher= | year=1973 | work=sztuka.net | url=http://www.sztuka.net.pl/palio/html.run?_Instance=www.sztuka.net.pl&_PageID=445&newsId=286&_CheckSum=-2107434195 | accessdate=2008-02-12]References
::In-line:ee also
*
Kazimierzowski Palace
* St Martin's Church
* Church of the Holy Cross
*Field Cathedral of the Polish Army External links
* [http://www.sztuka.net.pl/palio/html.run?_Instance=www.sztuka.net.pl&_PageID=445&newsId=286&callingPageId=487&_CheckSum=847099599 Church of St. Joseph in sztuka.net]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
