Consider this: a devastating plague swept through Warsaw in the late 1670s. Now look at the Matka Boska Passawska Statue. It stands as a symbol of gratitude and resilience.
This is the Matka Boska Passawska Statue. It is one of Warsaw’s oldest monuments. Only the Sigismund’s Column is older.
The Matka Boska Passawska Statue has a fascinating story. It was erected in 1683. Józef Bellotti, a sculptor and architect, created it. He wanted to thank God for saving his family from the plague. The plague ravaged Warsaw between 1677 and 1679. Bellotti also commemorated King Jan III Sobieski’s victory at the Battle of Vienna. He gifted the statue to the pious king.
The statue’s name comes from a famous image of the Virgin Mary. This image is housed in the Mariahilf pilgrimage church in Passau, Germany. The Passau image is a copy of a Lucas Cranach the Elder altarpiece. Emperor Leopold I prayed before the image during the Turkish invasion. He sought deliverance for Vienna. After the Turkish defeat, the image became revered. Copies spread throughout Austrian churches.
The Matka Boska Passawska Statue resembles the Cranach image. It is unknown if Bellotti visited Passau. He may have used a graphic reproduction of the image.
The Matka Boska Passawska Statue stands on a sandstone pedestal. Latin and Italian inscriptions adorn its sides. It was crowned in the 1830s.
In 1852, General Aleksander Hauke funded a restoration. This was done out of gratitude for deliverance from a severe cholera outbreak. The old zinc crowns were replaced with gilded iron ones.
Originally, the Matka Boska Passawska Statue stood further south on Krakowskie Przedmieście. In 1866, it was moved to its current location.
Ornamental lanterns were placed on either side of the Matka Boska Passawska Statue in 1880. The pedestal was raised in 1905. It was placed on a stone base in the Art Nouveau style. A wrought iron fence was added.
The Matka Boska Passawska Statue miraculously survived the Warsaw Uprising. Franz Batthyany funded its restoration in 2001. A plaque at the statue’s base commemorates this.
The inscriptions on the pedestal’s four sides tell the story of King Jan III Sobieski’s victory. They also tell of Bellotti’s dedication. They honor the Virgin Mary of Passau. They thank the city of Warsaw.
So, as you stand before this monument remember its history. Remember the plague, the victory and the enduring faith that shaped this iconic Warsaw landmark, the Matka Boska Passawska Statue.