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Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Bishop in Kalisz
The Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Bishop in Kalisz (Polish: Katedra św. Mikołaja Biskupa w Kaliszu) is a Catholic cathedral in Kalisz, Poland. The church site dates to the 13th century, and the current church is on the register of monuments in Poland.[1] The church is notable for its version of a work by Peter Paul Rubens.[2] HistoryThe church was founded by Duke Bolesław the Pious in the second half of the 13th century.[3] Construction continued into the 14th century. Builder Albino Fontana worked on the church in 1612. Gothic features were re-added in the 19th century.[3] The church became in 1818 the Cathedral of the Diocese of Cuiavia-Kalisz (now Diocese of Włocławek). It is now the Cathedral of the Diocese of Kalisz established in 1992. The Kalisz RubensIn about 1620, art patron Piotr Zeroński brought a version of Deposition by Peter Paul Rubens to the cathedral in Kalisz. This marked a notable early example of a Polish patron commissioning work from a prominent foreign artist.[2]  In 1908, during the era of partitions, Professor Mycielski of Krakow visited Kalisz and confirmed that the painting was an authentic Rubens. It had been hanging over the altar. The inspection revealed that the canvas had five holes, and that the painting had been renovated several times by "incompetent hands." At the time, the most recent renovation had occurred 40 years prior.[4] Professor Mycielski recommended that the painting be conserved, and by August 1908 the money had been raised.[4] In December 1973, officials suspected that the Rubens had been destroyed in a fire at the church. However, Polish news later reported that officials suspected the painting to have been stolen.[5] The cathedral currently houses a copy of the original work.[6] ArchitectureThe spire features flying buttresses.[6] References
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