The silver main altar of the cathedral was built in 1591 upon the order of Bishop of Wroclaw Andreas Jerin, who spent 10,000 thalers for its construction. In those times, this was equal to the cost of a medium-sized city. ‘The work evoked common admiration. Not only Catholics, but also Protestants kneeled in front of it. It is the leading work of mannerism,’ said Professor Piotr Oszczanowski, the director of the National Museum in Wroclaw, on the occasion of the exhibition Treasury. Goldsmithing of the Wroclaw Archcathedral. Specialists from the National Museum are finishing work on the reconstruction of the altar. There will be an opportunity to admire it during the exhibition Two Altars in April.
Jerin’s silver altar was the pride of the Wroclaw cathedral for centuries. During the siege of Festung Breslau it was divided into pieces and hidden. After the war, it was no longer shown in its entirety. ‘And it disappeared from Wroclaw inhabitants’ awareness,’ says Jacek Witecki, a custodian from the National Museum in Wroclaw.
Work of tremendous importance
The art historian stresses that Jerin's altar is an important work for Silesian and European art for a number of reasons. The first one is its aesthetic value – particularly goldsmiths’ techniques and skills of the author of painting parts of the pentaptych.
The second one is the cultural and religious importance of the work for contemporary inhabitants of Wroclaw and Silesia, among whom Protestants prevailed and Catholicism was in retreat. Nevertheless, the silver altar is an example of the co-operation of a Catholic priest and Protestant craftsmen.
Work on the reconstruction of Jerin's altar being conducted by specialists from the National Museum is nearing completion. It is co-financed, among others, by the city of Wroclaw. Jerin's altar will be presented in its entirety in the National Museum during the exhibition Two Altars. Then it will probably be put in the Wroclaw cathedral again.