The painting of Our Lady of Latyczów. An analysis and interpretation

Renata Wierna

Abstract

The painting of Our Lady of Latyczów dates back to the 16th century, and the examination of the painting did not prove otherwise. It was reportedly brought from Rome between 1594-1597 when the Dominicans arrived at Latyczów (1606); the painting was placed in the chapel funded by the Potocki family. In 1648, being in fear of Chmielnicki’s invasion, the Dominicans took the painting to Lviv. It returned to Latyczów in 1772 and was there until 1917. During World War I, it was in Pietniczany, and then in Winnica, and in 1918 it returned to Latyczów and was there until 1920 when it was transferred to Warsaw to be protected from the Bolsheviks. Then it returned from Warsaw to the parish church in Lubomia (1930-1935), and subsequently to the church in Łuck (1935-1945). In 1945 it was transferred to Lublin to the chapel of the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, from where it was taken, in 2014, to the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary in Lublin. The painting was renovated a few times, but detailed documentation of the conservation did not survive. The last thorough renovation was done in Lublin in 2014. The painting of Our Lady of Latyczów was painted in the tempera technique (possibly with the admixture of oil) on canvas stretched on a board. It measures 128,5 x 92 cm. The painting depicts Holy Mary in a standing position with a view of her figure to her knees. It is a copy of the icon of Salus Populi Romani, which appeared in Poland at the end of the 16th century. The depiction, however, underwent some evolution under the influence of Western painting. The composition of the Latycz painting is identical with the Roman work.