THE TYSZKIEWICZ’S CHAPEL WITH RELIGIOUS STATUES AND THE “LAST JUDGMENT” FRESCO IN THE DOME

It was built in the years 1645-58 from the foundation of Janusz Tyszkiewicz, the governor of Kiev. After his death (in 1649), the construction of the chapel was taken over by: Tyszkiewicz’s sister Krystyna and Stanisław Popow-Witowski, the voivode of Sandomierz. The builder of the chapel was Jan Cangerle. The stucco was made by Giovanni Battista Falconi.

Probably the chapel was built on the foundations of the city defense tower. Up to today, there are some shooting windows in the basement of the chapel. Architecturally, the chapel from the quadrangle in the basement section goes upwards into the construction of an octagon, and then into an oval capstone crowned with a dome
and a lantern. This is one of the most original architectural solutions in buildings using the dome.

Because the chapel was to be a religious choir at the same time, there are stalls on the ground floor between the windows
from around 1658. On slab stall survived most of the paintings depicting the saints and the blessed
from the Dominican Order.

Above the stalls and windows, as if on the first floor, the walls of the octagon are divided by corner pilasters. Fretwork on pilasters shows the tools of the Lord’s Passage sustained by the angels. Between the pilasters, paintings from around 1658 were hung: Tomasz Muszyński (successively from the left – Healing the patient by touching the relics of the Cross, Christ crucified and Procession with the Cross of Emperor Heraclius). In contrast, the paintings: Przybicie and Zdjęcie z Krzyża are the work of Albin Kucewicz. All the paintings have been additionally decorated with stucco ornaments in the form of kimationes at frames and plant wipes with herma below the frame.

Above the pilasters and paintings you can see the full entablature, played above the pilasters, decorated with floral motifs, eye-pleasing wings and winged putti.

Over the beams, there are 5 windows with a stepped border, with decorative archivolts and keys
in the shape of volumetric cartridges. Between the windows, semi-plastic figures from the Old Testament were set. Starting from the left side: Isaiah, Moses, David, Solomon, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Each of them has the appropriate attributes and on the cartridge written fragments of prophecies referring to the Passion of Christ.

In the cupola of the chapel was painted the fresco “Last Judgment” – a work of T. Muszyński from 1654-58.

On the wall of the tambour, above the main altar, there is an ornament which, in the frame of tonda, depicts the Shawl. Veronica. On the other hand, the coats of the founders of the chapel were placed on the sides of this tonda: Tyszkiewiczów (Leliwa – star and crescent) and Witowskich (Jastrzębiec – cross and horseshoe).

On the border of the chapel and the presbytery there is a semicircular arcade supported on the presbytery pilasters (circa 1653). The curved arcades are decorated with coffers with rosettes, with the angel’s and girl’s herma, as well as the deciduous and goblet coils of the palmettes.

The Tyszkiewicz’s chapel was thoroughly maintained and put into use in 2012.