Gravestones of the Kryski family located in the presbytery are examples of outstanding work of the Renaissance funerary art on the national scale.

History

The parish was founded in the 13th century or in the beginning of the 14th century. Construction of a brick church founded by Ninogniew Kryski, a Voivode of Płock, began in 1477. Already in 1536 the church was damaged by the fire and rebuilt before 1543 by efforts of Paweł Kryski, Voivode of Mazovia. The building was destroyed again during the Deluge, but it was quickly reconstructed. However, in the early 18th century the church was in a bad shape again. In 1740 it underwent renovation. Around 1770 the roof collapsed and side walls suffered damage. The feature was rebuilt after 1775, probably around 1780. Alterations in the building’s body included, among others, a tower, which was demolished at that time. It was then the building obtained its current appearance. In 1812 the feature was used by Napoleon’s troops. In 1939 it housed a field hospital and in the years 1942-1943 it served as a cereals warehouse. Rebuilt in the years 1949-1950 in the Gothic and Baroque Revival style.

Description

The church is located in the centre of the town, in the middle of the market square. It is built of brick and has a stone foundation. Erected on a rectangular floor plan, aisleless, with two annexes, housing a sacristy and a porch in the north and a chapel in the south. Corners are fitted with buttresses.

There is a segment-headed entrance on the façade; above it, there is a niche with a contemporary mosaic representing the Holy Mother of Częstochowa. A similar niche with a wooden crucifix is located in the eastern wall. Gables of the church and two annexes are partitioned by pilasters with volutes and pediments, separated by a wavy cornice with pinnacles on the sides.

The interior hosts the main altar in the Baroque style from the second half of the 19th century. The mid-point of the altar includes a painting of St Stanislaus, while a slider is adorned with a painting depicting Our Lady of the Rosary. Particular attention should be paid to two monumental gravestones made of stones extracted in Pińczów, located on the chancel walls. A two-storey gravestone of Wojciech Kryski, a Chamberlain of Płock, is positioned on the right side of the altar. It was made in the years 1572-1576. The late Chamberlain is presented in armour, in a lying position, on a sarcophagus projecting to the front. Above the gravestone, sitting silhouettes of his parents, Paweł and Anna nee Szreńska, were placed in two niches of the retable. The gravestone is ascribed to Santi Gucci’s workshop. Lavishly decorated, its form refers to gravestones of the Medici family in San Lorenzo church in Firenze.

The other, ternary gravestone, is positioned on the opposite wall. However, it dates back to later times, as it was constructed in the years 1609-1613. It represents a lying figure of Piotr Kryski and sitting figures of his parents in niches - Stanisław Kryski, a Voivode of Mazovia, and his wife Małgorzata, nee Uchańska. Taking account of the composition, both gravestones are nearly identical, however, the latter is simplified and of poorer quality, in terms of form. It was probably prepared by local craftsmen and only inspired by the prototype.

The church can be viewed from the outside; inside, it can be viewed outside the hours of religious services.

Compiled by Bartłomiej Modrzewski, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Warsaw, 24-11-2014.

Bibliography

• T. Glinka, M. Kamiński, M. Piasecki, K. Przygoda, A. Walenciak, Mazowsze północne. Przewodnik, Warszawa 1998.
• I. Jesionowska, P. Tyszka, Dwa nagrobki w Drobinie - dzieło mistrza i jego naśladowców, „Spotkania z Zabytkami” 2010, nr 7-8, s. 32-35.
• Historia Drobina i parafii, Strona parafii św. Stanisława B. M. w Drobinie, http://www.parafia-drobin.pl/articles.php?article_id=10, 11.03.2011, dostęp: 24.10.2014.
• Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce, t. X, Dawne województwo warszawskie, red. I. Galicka, H. Sygietyńska, z. 15, Okolice, Płocka, oprac. I. Galicka, H. Sygietyńska, inwent. D. Kaczmarzyk, Warszawa 1992.