Vilnian Baroque

The Vilnian Baroque (Lithuanian: Vilnietiškas barokas) or the School of Vilnius Baroque (Lithuanian: Vilniaus baroko mokykla) is a name of late Baroque architecture style in church architecture of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and on territories covered by the Union of Brest.[1][2][3] The style was formed by alumnus of the Vilnius University, mostly buildings in this style are preserved in Vilnius.[4][5][6][3][7]

Church of St. Casimir, the first Baroque style church in Lithuania's capital Vilnius

The architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz is considered to be one of the founders of Vilnian Baroque. Working on restoration of churches in Vilnius, he was often inspired by contemporary buildings of Austria and Bavaria. Polish churches created by Paolo Fontana are also made in Vilnian Baroque style. Vilnian Baroque was most popular among the Uniates which gave the style its second name ‘Uniate Baroque’.[8] Another famous architect Thomas Zebrowski also designed and supervised constructions of Vilnian Baroque churches in Lithuania and Belarus.[9]

Vilnian Baroque is characterized by upward striving outlooks, two towers symmetry, overall lightness of shapes. In this regard the style is opposed to the so-called Sarmatian that was widespread in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the late XVII — early XVIII centuries.[10][11][2][3] Other features of the Vilnian Baroque include differently decorated compartments, undulation of cornices and walls, decorativeness in bright colors, and multi-colored marble and stucco altars in the interiors.[11][3][12]