Kauno benediktinių vienuolyno tyrimai. T. 2, Kauno benediktinių vienuolyno ansamblio meninė savastis

LTMonografijoje atskleidžiamas reikšmingo Lietuvos kultūros paveldo objekto – Kauno benediktinių vienuolyno ansamblio – meninis savitumas, atsižvelgiant į istorines ansamblio formavimosi ypatybes, vienuolijos dvasingumo aspektus ir kasdieninį gyvenimą lėmusias bei koregavusias aplinkybes. Analizuojamas Kauno benediktinių vienuolyno ansamblio architektūros formavimasis, įvertinamos bažnyčios, vienuolyno, klebonijos, mažųjų architektūros formų meninės ypatybės, bažnyčios interjero raida ir kaita, interpretuojama ikonografinė programa bei jos pokyčiai, išryškinami ir apibūdinami vertingiausi meno objektai, atskleidžiami nauji faktai apie ansamblio architektūros ir dailės kūrėjus, nustatoma jų reikšmė meniniam objekto įvaizdžiui, kuris neatsiejamas nuo dvasinių vienuolijos ir bendrų krikščioniškojo tikėjimo idealų. Meninio paveldo analizę papildo kontekstinė dalis – benediktiniško meno specifikos Europoje bei Lietuvoje apžvalga. [Anotacija knygoje]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Kauno bernardinų vienuolynas; Šv. Mikalojaus (benediktinių) bažnyčia; Benediktinų vienuolynai; Krikščionių dailė ir simbolika; Benedictine convents; Sacral architecture.

ENIn 2012-2016, historical, architectural and artistic research on Kaunas Benedictine convent was performed. Results of historical analysis of art are summarized in this book, which is the second volume of publication "Research of Kaunas Benedictine convent". Artistic heritage of Kaunas Benedictine monastery ensemble so far lacked a comprehensive research, though some aspects were already deeper or less examined. The most attention was paid to the gothic architecture and present-day interior, in artistic complex of which, decisions of interwar and Revival periods, which integrate together gothic space structure, baroque elements, features of national style and newest artistic "insertions," are dominating. This monograph aimed to expand and exhaustively reveal the artistic originality of Kaunas Benedictine ensemble by consequently evaluating the development, changes and features of exterior architecture as well as forms in interior; to present interpretations and changes in the iconographic program, taking into the consideration the spiritual aspects of the Benedictine sisters and paying attention to external causes that sometimes predetermined disparencies between the Rule of St. Benedict and iconography; to analyze features of artworks, deliver new facts about builders, masters and artists of the monastery.The monograph is divided and has two parts. The first one is contextual aiming to briefly discuss the origin of the Benedictine convents's iconography and define main features of this art in Europe and Lithuania. Art of monasteries in Subiaco and Monte Cassino was chosen as a reference point. These places, located close to each other, are the heart were the Rule of St. Benedict originated; here, in the 6th century, the Rule was written and monasteries founded by the Saint himself, who lived in grotto in Subiaco for three years. Art of these monasteries covers a long period of several centuries and reflects general features of the Benedictine iconography - the most important saints, dominating themes, principles for the development of the narrative. Further in this book revealed is the way female Benedictine communities represent themselves in the art, analysed are the examples of the art of Lithuanian Benedictine monasteries, most prominent objects of which are the Benedictine churches in Nesvizh and Vilnius.The monograph does not cover establishment and development of the Benedictine convents in Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth though the reader can expect that; however, these themes are analyzed in the first volume of "Researches of Kaunas Benedictine convent" which is the monograph of V. Kamuntavičienė - "History of Kaunas Benedictine convent: between 17th and 20th centuries". In this book, the reader will find many answers to questions which might have been expected in this text, and vise versa. The second is the main part of the book and is composed of five chapters summarizing all research in the ensemble of Kaunas Benedictine convent. The narration begins with the oldest object - St. Nicholas Church. General statements about the gothic architectural inheritance of this building were, as already mentioned, formulated earlier. Some new facts and adjustments about the foundation of the church were presented by V. Kamuntavičienė. This monograph developed previous insights in history of art, the gothic inheritance was observed from the new and wider angle; however, particular discoveries could not be presented as new empirical architectural or archaeological studies as well as additional archival sources were lacking. Nevertheless, architectural analysis of the gothic church is essential for the integrity of the text and to thoroughly reveal the object; it was developed by comprehensively presenting the comparative material, besides, deeper analysed was the formation of the conception about the artistic value of the church since the first 19th-century texts to the professional and versatile evaluations.