My doctoral project focuses on the perception and transformation of Baroque architectural heritage in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the long 19th century, when these lands were part of the Russian Empire. Throughout most of this period, Baroque was widely disregarded and undervalued across Europe, until it was revisited and even underwent revival at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Moreover, the rise of medievalism and nationalism, coupled with the dominant “romantic” approach to restoration, often led to the elimination and destruction of Baroque elements in numerous exteriors and interiors.
In this context, the fate of Baroque architecture in the Lithuanian and Belarusian lands reflects similar ideological and aesthetic shifts, but with peculiarities. The political factor played a crucial role, especially after the suppression of the November Uprising of 1830–1831 and January Uprising of 1863–1864. The Russian authorities escalated assimilation and integration efforts in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, aiming to eliminate Polish influence and reinforce the Orthodox faith. As a result, multiple Roman and Greek Catholic churches were converted to Orthodox and remodelled accordingly, often in the (Neo)classicism or pseudo-Russian style. Despite not being directly targeted as such, Baroque sacred buildings, quite numerous and pronounced, suffered the most from these practices. At the same time, some structures survived this period without significant damage, while the others were neglected or demolished.
My dissertation explores a variety of interventions experienced by Baroque monuments based on the diverse attitudes and value orientations of actors who engaged with them. I analyse these aspects in connection with the development of historical knowledge and heritage consciousness as well as with religious and national processes and policies in the region. My research can be located within an interdisciplinary framework of heritage studies, which investigates how the remnants of the past were regarded, studied, preserved, used, and changed over time.
Publications from the project
‘“Styl kościoła i ołtarzy tak zwykły u nas w kraju…”: Multicultural Perspectives on the Baroque Architecture of the Former Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Early 20th Century’, in Old Cities, Former Capitals and the Nation-State Building in Southeastern Europe: Regional and National Identities, ed. Cristian Ploscaru et al., ISTORIE MODERNĂ ȘI MEMORIE CULTURALĂ (Universității ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’, 2025).