Az aracsi templomrom XIX. századi ábrázolásainak leíró katalógusa
Descriptive Catalog of 19th-Century Depictions of the Aracs Church Ruin

Author(s): Endre Raffay
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture, Visual Arts
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Arača church ruins; monument preservation; nineteenth-century illustrations; architectural history; heritage documentation; medieval church; engravings; Henszlmann Imre; Adolf van der Venne; historical reconstruction
Summary/Abstract: The study examines the nineteenth-century visual representations of the ruins of the Arača church and provides a descriptive catalogue of these historical depictions. The article forms part of a broader scientific documentation project concerning the preservation and interpretation of the medieval monument. Raffay analyzes early illustrations, engravings, and sketches published between 1856 and 1871, including works by Hertelendy József, Adolf van der Venne, Henszlmann Imre, and Doby Jenő. The author evaluates the accuracy and reliability of each image by comparing them with surviving architectural remains and later photographs. A central theme of the study is the relationship between artistic interpretation and architectural documentation in the nineteenth century. Raffay demonstrates that some drawings contain inaccuracies caused by perspective problems, memory-based reconstruction, or limited architectural knowledge, while others preserve valuable details that no longer exist today. The paper carefully reconstructs how the ruined church appeared before modern restoration interventions and before several structural collapses occurred. Special attention is given to architectural elements such as arches, pillars, vaults, apses, windows, and decorative stone carvings visible in the illustrations. The study also highlights the importance of these visual sources for theoretical reconstruction and heritage preservation research, especially when physical remains have disappeared. Overall, the article contributes significantly to the understanding of the Arača church ruins and emphasizes the documentary value of nineteenth-century artistic representations in monument protection studies.

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