Architectural and artistic solution of the alabaster altar “The Passion of Christ” in Lviv

Diverse in shape and size, construction material, compositional, constructive, and plastic solutions, altars were the main architectural and artistic highlights of church interiors. This article is devoted to the exploration of the origin history of the alabaster altar of the Passion of Christ in Lviv, analysis of its architectural, artistic, and compositional features, and determination of its artistic value. The relief alabaster altar on the theme “The Passion of Christ” was crafted by Jan Zaremba, a Lviv sculptor, in 1595, funded by Lviv patron Jan Scholz-Wolfowicz for the Chapel of the Holy Cross of the Latin Cathedral in Lviv. At present, the altar is located in the Orthodox Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God in Lviv. The altar is made of local alabaster, a gypsum rock with low hardness, suitable for relief decorative finishes. The Passion of Christ altar is constructed in the form of a triptych with a base, tier, and top. A feature of the altar is the organic combination of bas-reliefs and decorative carving in its architectonics, characteristic of the Renaissance period in Lviv. The plastic interpretation of the narrative scenes of the Passion of Christ in the iconographic composition of the Renaissance alabaster altar is analyzed. Sculptor Jan Zaremba was able to skillfully and confidently convey the realistic emotional state of the characters, and recreate a multi-layered space in the bas-relief narrative compositions of the Passion of Christ. He created a harmonious, complete, highly artistic work of correct proportions, built according to the laws of the golden ratio, which satisfied the spiritual and esthetic needs of the faithful. The studied altar holds high artistic and scientific value and belongs not only to the artistic heritage of Ukraine but also to the world’s cultural heritage.