Photographer’s Note
Zygmunt's Column or Sigismund's Column (Polish: Kolumna Zygmunta), erected in 1644, is one of Warsaw's most famous landmarks and one of the oldest secular monuments in northern Europe. The column and statue commemorate King Zygmunt III Waza, who in 1596 had moved Poland's capital from Kraków to Warsaw.
Erected between 1643 and 1644, the column was constructed on the orders of Zygmunt's son and successor, King Władysław IV Vasa. It was designed by the Italian-born architect Constantino Tencalla and the sculptor Clemente Molli, and cast by Daniel Tym. The Zygmunt's Column was modelled on the Italian columns in front of Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (erected in 1614 to designs of Carlo Maderno), and the Column of Phocas in Rome (Władysław Vasa had seen both of them during his visit to Rome in 1625).
In 1681 the monument was surrounded with a wooden fence, which was later replaced with a permanent iron fence. The marble column itself was renovated several times in the next few centuries, most notably in 1743, 1810, 1821 and 1828. In 1854 the monument was surrounded with a fountain featuring marble tritons sculpted by the German, August Kiss.
In 1863 the column was renovated somewhat again, but still needed work, and between 1885 and 1887 it was replaced with a new column of granite. Between 1927 and 1930, the monument was again renovated, and was restored to its original appearance when the fountain and the fence around it were removed.
On September 1, 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising, the monument was demolished by the Germans, and its bronze statue was badly damaged. After the war the statue was repaired, and in 1949 it was set up on a new column, made of granite form the Strzegom mine, a couple of meters from the original site. The original broken pieces of the column can still be seen lying next to the Royal Castle.
On the Corinthian column (which used to be of red marble), 8.5 m high, a sculpture of the King, 2.75-meter high, in archaistic armour is placed. Sigismund's Column now stands at 22 meters and is adorned by four eagles. The king is dressed in armor and carries a cross in one hand and wields a sword in the other.
Ola_Kwiatek, Jonathan_Tree, JanD, gracious, LeeLoo, zeca, argycon has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
aadilj
(17950) 2009-04-28 0:40
Hi Ashley, I like the changing hues as they transform from the rich blue on the top to something else by the time they reach the bottom. The image is superbly composed and is interesting
Ola_Kwiatek
(2524) 2009-04-28 2:07
Wonderful shot. Excellent light and shadow. Good contrast. Original picture.
Cheers
Jonathan_Tree
(4303) 2009-04-28 2:39
Hi Ashley!
Original minimalistic composition. Perfect contrast. Nice light and shadow. Original work.
Cordially!
hockie53 (6) 2009-04-29 14:34
Hi Ashley,
I like the dark objects in the foreground and how they contrast with the blue sky. The border accents the photo nicely as well. Great work!
gracious
(20017) 2009-05-17 21:42
Hello Ashley,
Excellent pov to capture the momument in the best time of the day! the colour in the sky truly specticular and beautiful also makes a wonderful sihouette in the composition
well done
Tony
LeeLoo
(5014) 2009-05-18 5:11
Dear Ashley Sch!
Wonderful column.
Very interesting mysterious shadows.
Good contrast.
Original picture.
TFS!
mkamionka
(4472) 2009-05-20 1:37
Hi Ashley,
I like it very much.
The contour is very chracteristic, very unique and you did a great job with the background. The color gradient is fantastic, it looks so beautiful.
TFS
M
sacimar
(7381) 2009-05-20 11:48
Hi Ashley,
beautiful picture, I like the tones and colours you captured, the composition with the column silhouette is very interesting, well done!
Regards
Sergio
zeca
(20026) 2009-05-20 19:26
Very nice silhuettes, with the beautiful sunset colours enhancing it even more. I like the figures.
Regards,
Zeca
argycon
(2749) 2009-05-22 6:38
Hi Ashley,
Impressive sunset silhouettes! Excellent vertical frame from a great POV! Superb colors!!!
tfs
kostas
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Ashley Sch (loves_summer)
(763) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2008-08-31
- Categories: Architecture
- Exposure: f/2.8, 1/320 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2009-04-27 18:44








