THE TOMB OF KAZIMIR THE GREAT IN THE WAWEL CATHEDRAL OF CRACOW

Abstract

Summary The subject of this article is the tomb of Kazimir the Great, located within the easternmost arcade of the Cracow cathedral ambulatory. Its importance has been acknowledged in numerous studies but there are many questions which previous scholarship failed to consider in depth. I therefore focus on two outstanding issues. Firstly I examine the implications of the fact that the effigy was left incomplete, and underline the importance of tomb design in Hungary. Secondly I emphasise the centrality of Louis the Great's role in creating his predecessor's tomb at Cracow. In addition, I provide a new description of the tomb in its present state, based on the examination of visual records and the unpublished documents in the Cracow archives. Furthermore, I undertake a stylistic analysis of the tomb giving consideration to the achievements of the most accomplished sculptural workshops of contemporary Central Europe, but focusing on the Hungarian tomb sculpture and metalwork. This analysis suggests that the sculptor of Kazimir's tomb worked in the employ of Louis the Great and his style was rooted in the tradition of Hungarian sculpture. It appears that the miscellaneous stylistic references apparent in the Wawel tomb are due to his extensive knowledge of contemporary artistic trends. Finally, it is proposed that the tomb was constructed some time between 1371 and 1375.