Mediaeval church architecture in eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem county and it's transformations during the Ottoman reign

Abstract

Predmet istraživanja je srednjovjekovna sakralna arhitektura istočne Slavonije, Baranje i Srijema te sakralna kršćanska arhitektura za vrijeme osmanske vlasti (1526.-kraj 17. st.), koja kroz taj period zadržava tradicionalna srednjovjekovna obilježja te stoga ne može biti sagledana u kontekstu novih stilskih stremljenja, prisutnih u arhitekturi renesanse i baroka. U analizi sačuvanih spomenika i onih otkrivenih u arheološkom sloju koristila sam interdisciplinaran pristup, u svjetlu novih konzervatorskih, povijesno-umjetničkih, povijesnih i arheoloških istraživanja, jer iznimno mala količina pisanih izvora, kao i devastacija izvornog srednjovjekovnog sloja kasnijim preinakama, otežavaju valorizaciju spomenika samo na temelju povijesno-umjetničkih znanstvenih metoda. Na temelju interdisciplinarnosti i komparacije s arhitekturom susjednih zemalja (Mađarska, Slovenija, Slovačka, Poljska), spomenička srednjovjekovna građa istočnohrvatske ravnice je sagledana u kontekstu srednjoeuropskog kulturnog kruga. Istraživanja su pokazala da je umjetnost srednjeg vijeka na ovim prostorima uvjetovana prvenstveno društvenim i demografskim prilikama i tradicijom (značaj tradicije srednjovjekovne gradnje, uvoz gotovih umjetničko-arhitektonskih rješenja), a tek u manjoj mjeri stilskim premisama. Spomenike sakralne arhitekture s ovih prostora treba promatrati u kontekstu rubnih područja širenja utjecaja zapadne umjetnosti. Također, uočena je perzistencija ustaljenih karakteristika srednjovjekovne sakralne arhitekture, koja se tipološki i morfološki razvija pod utjecajima uvezenih rješenja dvorske i redovničke umjetnosti. Spoznaje konzervatorskih, povijesnih i arheoloških istraživanja upućuju na postojanje graditeljskog sloja (obnova ili gradnja) u vremenu osmanske okupacije Slavonije (1526.-kraj 17. st.). Oslanjajući se na radove Anđele Horvat, Dubravke Botice i Diane VukičevićSamaržije, razloge trajanja medijevalnih graditeljskih elemenata nalazim u revitalizaciji graditeljske djelatnosti u drugoj polovici 16.st i prvoj polovini 17. st., koju potiču pristaše reformatorskog pokreta te franjevci Provincije Bosna Srebrena. Uočavanje i analiza tradicije srednjovjekovnih formi nužna je za sagledavanje crkvenog graditeljstva za vrijeme osmanske vlasti u istočnoj Hrvatskoj. Konačno, izrađen je novi katalog spomenika srednjovjekovne sakralne arhitekture, upotpunjen arhitektonskom dokumentacijom, kao i podacima o pripadajućim ulomcima arhitektonske plastike te zidnim oslicima, a u svrhu ažuriranja podataka o srednjovjekovnoj sakralnoj spomeničkoj građi s ovih prostora – dopuna spoznaja ranijih istraživača te dopuna kataloga novim primjerima arhitekture.The research subject of this disertation is the medieval church architecture of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem and church architecture during the Ottoman reign in Eastern Croatia (1526.-end of 17.th century), which through that period continues the use of traditional medieval forms and therefore can not be viewed according to the new stylistic aspirations of the architecture of the Rennaissance and Baroque period. In the process of analysis and evaluation of preserved monuments and monuments discovered in archeological state I have used an interdisciplinary approach, seen in a light of new historical, archeological, art-historical research, as an extremely small amount of historic written evidence has been preserved and the monuments have undergone considerable devastation through rebuilding what makes it hard to evaluate these monuments using purely methods of art history. Based on this interdisciplinary approach and comparing monuments of this region with medieval architecture in neighboring countries (Vojvodina, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland) I was able to make a valorization of the whole medieval church architecture od Eastern Croatia, placing it within the context of the Central European cultural circle. My research have shown that medieval art in the region was conditioned by social circumstances and tradition (the role of tradition of medieval architecture, the import of foreign bulding solutions), rather then by elements of artistic style. So, I believe that this segment of medieval art should be considered within the context of borderlands of western medieval styles. Also, I have noticed the persistence of traditional characteristics of medieval church architecture, which has undergone through a typological and morphological develpoment under the influence of imported court art and monastic art. Recent historical and archeological research point to building activity in the period of Ottoman occupation of Eastern Croatia. Following the work of previous authors (A. Horvat, D. Botica, Diana V.-Samaržija) I believe that continuation of medieval building elements can be explained by the revitalization of church building in the second half of the 16th century and first part of the 17th century, which was enforced by the spread of Protestant Reformation, and also by the Franciscans of the Bosna Srebrena province. So recognition and analysis of the transformations of gothic forms has proven vital for researh in medieval church building in Eastern Croatia during Ottoman reign. Finally, I have made a new catalogue listing all the monuments of medieval church architecture, accompanied by architectural documentation, and by new insights into architectural decor and wall decoration – i.e. fresco and secco paintings. The purpose of this catalogue is to update our knowledge about medieval church architecture of this region