Aleksander Fredro Monument
Kraków Artists: Writers and Poets
A white marble bust of Aleksander Fredro on Holy Spirit Square, in front of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre. The founder was Konstanty Wołodkowicz, the bust is by Cyprian Godebski, and the granite pedestal was designed by Józef Pokutyński. It was unveiled on 8 November 1900; that evening a special Fredro performance was given in the theatre, "The Maiden Vows" and "The Letter". Fredro (1793-1876) is regarded as the greatest comedy writer in the history of Polish literature.
History
Aleksander Fredro was born in June 1793 in Surochów near Jarosław, into a wealthy noble family. He was educated at home, and at the age of sixteen he joined the army of the Duchy of Warsaw. During Napoleon's campaign against Moscow he served in the 5th Cavalry Regiment and was awarded the Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari, and in the campaign of 1813-1814 he was an orderly officer on the Emperor's staff. When Napoleon abdicated in 1815, Fredro returned home and took up running the family estate, and in 1818 he wrote his first important comedy, "Pan Geldhab". In his comedies he showed mastery in creating characters, handling the plot and using supple language, and he also brought in touches of humour and elements of comedy from folk theatre. His works became a permanent part of the canon of Polish literature and theatre. After fierce attacks from critics in 1839 he gave up writing for over a decade, returning to comedy in 1854. He died in Lviv in 1876. He is regarded as the greatest comic playwright in the history of Polish literature, and his fables, such as "Paweł i Gaweł" and "Zupa na gwoździu" ("Nail Soup"), are read by children.
Fredro's bust stands in front of the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, on Świętego Ducha Square. It was funded by Konstanty Wołodkowicz, the white marble sculpture was made by Cyprian Godebski, and the grey granite pedestal was designed by Józef Pokutyński. The monument was unveiled on 8 November 1900. The celebrations began with a service in the Church of the Holy Cross, attended by representatives of Kraków's theatrical and artistic world, and the theatre's director, Kotarbiński, laid a wreath beneath the bust. In the evening the theatre put on a special Fredro performance: "Śluby panieńskie" ("Maidens' Vows") and "List" ("The Letter"). In 2017 the monument underwent conservation. The marble bust, the granite plinth and the bronze theatrical mask were restored, and because the monument had started to lean, it was stabilised with micropiles.
Did you know?
During the first winter after the unveiling, the bust was covered with a wooden shed. Cyprian Godebski, who stopped off in Kraków on his way to Lviv, assured the city authorities in March 1901 that the white marble would not be harmed by snow, and took responsibility for any damage.