„Si deus nobis cum…” Powtarzające się motywy inskrypcji fasadowych na budynkach na terenie Galicji na przełomie XIX/XX wieku

W Galicji w okresie autonomii uzyskanej w ramach Monarchii Austro-Węgierskiej (okres zamykający się w latach 1866–1914), na skutek wielu zmian polityczno-społecznych nastąpił gwałtowny przyrost ludności, a co za tym idzie również i znaczny rozwój budowlany. Szczególnie widoczne jest to w Krakowie, ale także i w innych mniejszych miastach regionu. W tym okresie powstało wiele budynków prywatnych (kamienic, pałacyków miejskich, willi podmiejskich) i budynków użyteczności publicznej. Oprócz wykorzystania nowoczesnych technologii w konstrukcji, w sferze zewnętrznej, czyli w dekoracji budynków pojawił się również nowy trend, jakim było celowe umieszczanie na fasadach budowli inskrypcji o wielorakim znaczeniu. Niektóre z tych inskrypcji to motta życiowe projektantów lub zleceniodawców budynku, inne to nazwy zwyczajowe nadawane domom, podpisy, daty, etc. Niezwykle ciekawym jest fakt, że niektóre z tych napisów fasadowych powtarzają motywy umieszczone na budynkach z wcześniejszego okresu architektonicznego, lub też powtarzają ten sam cytat lub jego wariację w budowlach różnych stylistycznie, budowanych w różnym czasie i znajdujących się na terenie całej Galicji.In the Galicia region during the period of autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian Empire (period between 1866–1914), as a consequence of multiple political and social changes, a huge demographic transformation has occurred, which implemented also a sprouting development of constructions. It is particularly visible in Krakow, but also in few smaller towns in the region. A great number of private building has been constructed (tenant houses, city manors, suburban villas, etc.) as well as public utility buildings. Apart using of new technologies in the construction, in the outside sphere, i.e. buildings decoration, a new tendency has appeared: placing deliberately on the building facades some inscriptions bearing multiple meanings. Some of them are life mottos of the designer or the employer, other are common names given to the houses, or signatures, dates, etc. Interesting is the fact that some of the facades’ inscriptions are repeating the motives put on a building from a previous architectural period, or are copying exactly the same quotation or its variation on the constructions stylistically different, built in different time and located on the territory of the whole Galicia region

Inscriptions as witnesses of their time in Krakow on the century turning

Katarzyna Mysona Byrska in the paper Inscriptions as witnesses of their time in Krakow on the century turning proposes to ponder on decoration details which are facades’ inscriptions. Krakow at the turning of the 19th and 20th century experiences an unusual development in all domains. A series of intertwining military, political, economic and social factors allowed the city to catch up on many centuries’ retardements, so that this still medieval provincial city could meet the challenge of modernity. This remarkable process of transforming into a thriving center of education, trade, industry and culture was made possible by the reform of the Habsburg Monarchy, while the province of Galicia and the cities in its territory gained autonomy within the Monarchy. In a small city which Krakow used to be, the aristocratic families settled for sentimental and patriotic reasons, students came to look for possibilities of studying in Polish language, religious congregations moved in for political reasons, and the population migrated in search for work as domestic help, in services and constuctions. The big fire of the city in 1850 gave an unexpected impulse to developement, which should be understood not only as the construction of new buildings, but also as the making of ideas and preparing of laws and rules, enabling the city to progres in terms of urban planning, economy, social and scientific fields. This also resulted in newly erected houses, representative public utility buildings and numerous private investments. Entire quarters were created parallely in new districts, and the buildings’ front elevations were a field for architects and builders who decorated them abundantly, wanting to give them a unique character – at the same time gaining publicity, and thus, new orders. Beside all kinds of floral and animalistic ornaments, bas-reliefs, allegories and other decorative forms, the facades also featured inscriptions specifying building function, proclaiming institution's motto, calling for providence care through prayer, or bearing builders’ signatures. All these elements speak about bygone times and the city inhabitants. In this sense, the houses’ facades are extremely valuable witnesses of their time, from which the past can be read