Forget the "white swan". The Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk is proposed to restore its historical colored facade

The restored Baroque coloring of the facades of the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk and its current whitewashed appearance. We have become accustomed to the snow-white appearance of the church, but compared to how it historically looked, this white color makes it lifeless, like a life-size model. Photo: Raman Zabiela's Facebook

On his Facebook page, Raman Zabiela notes that the current snow-white image of the Saint Sophia Cathedral, which many poetically compare to a "white swan," is often mistakenly perceived as authentic. In fact, this appearance is the result of utilitarian repairs in the 19th century and restoration approaches of the 1980s.

“In the second half of the 19th century, the building was two-colored; later it was whitewashed, but the roof was dark, not such an active green. And historical lime whitewashes never provided such a long-lasting bright color that reflects light and makes the facade optically 'flat',” the researcher writes.

Павялічыць

Restoration of the original Baroque coloring of the Church of the Missionary Order in Vilnius. Photo: welovelithuania.com

The specialist explains that the essence of repainting Baroque facades in a single light color during the Russian Empire was exclusively a practice of cheap regular repairs and unification.

According to the imperial decrees of the time, facades in cities were to be painted every 3-4 years and have a subdued pastel tone. This led to the loss of the unique distinctiveness of the objects. In restoration methodology, such a repair stage is not considered valuable and should not define the new appearance of the monument.

Baroque should be colorful

Today, the Saint Sophia Cathedral has the completed appearance of a Baroque church from the mid-18th century, into which the remains of an 11th-century church are delicately integrated. The restorer emphasizes that no new authorial or stylistically complete changes have occurred since then, so restoring the original Baroque coloring is an absolutely logical step.

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Scheme of probings on the main facade, which allowed the detection of colored painting. Photo: Raman Zabiela's Facebook

That the Saint Sophia Cathedral was colorful has long been no secret to specialists. This was confirmed by stratigraphic studies of paint layers in 1969, as well as later studies in 2002 and 2011. Based on these data, Raman Zabiela proposed a conditional graphic reconstruction of the cathedral's color scheme, where the facade acquires warm ochre hues with terracotta accents on decorative elements such as window frames, garlands on pilasters, and recessed plinth bands (similar to the Baroque architects' reference to striped masonry "with a hidden row," which the Polotsk school of architecture adhered to until the end - NN).

“Until now, I often encounter arguments against restoring the historical coloring: 'people are used to it', 'what if they don't understand', 'no need to risk it'."

Павялічыць

The Brigittine Church in Grodno — one of the first in Belarus whose Baroque coloring was restored during restoration. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Павялічыць

The main facade of the Baroque Corpus Christi Church in Nesvizh before and after restoration. Beneath layers of utilitarian white paint, a unique complex of wall paintings with cartouches, imitation brickwork, and natural stone, about which nothing was previously known, was discovered. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

“In fact, restoring Baroque coloring is not something new in Belarusian restoration practice. Relevant works have already been carried out at different times and to varying degrees on the Brigittine Church in Grodno, the former Jesuit Corpus Christi Church in Nesvizh, the former Bernardine Church of St. Joseph in Minsk; and are currently underway at the Bernardine Church of the Immaculate Conception in Slonim. The result, both for the urban environment and for the perception of the monuments themselves… is exclusively positive,” the expert argues.

Павялічыць

The main facade of the Church of St. Joseph in Minsk after the restoration of its Baroque coloring based on physicochemical studies of the finish. Photo: "Spadchyna" Telegram channel

Павялічыць

The colored exterior of St. Catherine's Church in Vilnius after recent restoration. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

What needs to be done?

On the eve of the new restoration, the architect calls for formulating a precise request for a comprehensive study of the monument's historical coloring.

According to him, with each new repair, the information available for study on the facades becomes less and less.

Studies should be carried out not only through the examination of small samples in the laboratory, but also through layer-by-layer cleaning of each element directly on the facade by artist-restorers, as was successfully done at the church in Nesvizh and the Church of St. Joseph in Minsk.

In addition to the color scheme, Raman Zabiela considers it necessary to more clearly display the authentic remains of the 11th-century walls on the eastern and western facades, and also to raise the issue of restoring the historical height of the roof ridge. All of this will help Polotsk regain not a utilitarian-white, but a truly historical Sophia.

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