Karl Škréta Starszy i Michael Willmann, czyli co się stało w Raciborzu
Karl Škréta the Elder and Michael Willmann, or what happened in Racibórz

Summary/Abstract: This paper discusses relations between two outstanding Central European baroque artists: Karel Škréta the Elder (1610–1674) and Michael Willmann (1630–1706). Both painters were active on the territory of the Bohemian Crown at the same time for almost 20 years. Both painters gained the dominant positions on the field of painting in the neighbouring countries, where they worked: Škréta in Bohemia and Willmann in Silesia. This paper answers the question whether the artists competed with each other or their artistic careers developed independently of each other.In this context a newly discovered picture Crucifixion of Christ (1670) by Škréta and the picture St. Mary Magdalene (1685) by Willmann are presented. A blind coincidence decided that the paintings by two famous masters were collocated in the same place in two adjacent side altars in the parish church of the Assumption of Mary in Racibórz in such a way as if their authors vied for the palm in the field of painting. It was also a twist of fate that in 1945 both paintings were removed from the altars and – seriously damaged – deposited in the local presbytery. This situation changed after the restoration works in 2005 – although both paintings have not returned to the altars in the church, they have been exhibited in the same room in the presbytery next to each other, as if resuming their rivalry, which was interrupted in 1945.

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