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Tomb of Lew Sapieha

The Tomb of Lew Sapieha is the funerary monument of the Lithuanian chancellor and grand hetman Lew Sapieha and his two wives, located in St. Michael’s Church in Vilnius. It is regarded as one of the most valuable sculptural monuments of the early Baroque period in the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The tomb was created in several stages: separate memorial slabs were first made for Sapieha’s wives, Elżbieta Radziwiłł, who died in 1591, and Dorota Firlej, who died in 1611, followed by Sapieha’s own slab in 1633. In the 1640s, these three independent tombs were incorporated into a large monument by the North Italian sculptor Sebastian Sala.

Tomb of Lew Sapieha with a central armored reclining figure and smaller draped figures in a multi-tiered stone monument
The Tomb of Lew Sapieha in Vilnius, featuring a richly carved multi-tiered funerary monument with reclining figures and ornate details.
2007 © · Public domain
Tomb of Lew Sapieha, a tall ornate marble monument with carved figures, relief panels, and a standing figure at the top
The Tomb of Lew Sapieha is a richly decorated marble monument with carved figures, reliefs, and classical architectural details.
August 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Baroque Tomb of Lew Sapieha with a standing figure, reclining effigies, and carved relief figures.
The Tomb of Lew Sapieha, a richly decorated Baroque monument with multiple sculpted figures.
© Józef Czechowicz · Public domain
Sepia-toned view of the Tomb of Lew Sapieha, a multi-tiered funerary monument with sculptural figures, reliefs, coats of arms, and inscription plaques.
The Tomb of Lew Sapieha, shown here in a sepia-toned photograph of its richly decorated multi-tiered structure.
© Władysław Zahorski · Public domain
Engraved depiction of the Tomb of Lew Sapieha with multiple reclining figures and a standing figure at the top.
The Tomb of Lew Sapieha shown in a detailed engraved depiction with sculptural figures arranged across multiple tiers.
© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Identification

TitleTomb of Lew Sapieha
Original nameНадгробие Льва Сапеги
TypeFunerary monument

Historical context

StyleEarly Baroque sacred sculpture with Renaissance tomb elements
RegionTerritory of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Creator

SculptorSebastian Sala, a sculptor from Northern Italy

Discovery and provenance

Creation date1640s
Creation processCreated in several stages: two slabs were made first for Lew Sapieha's wives after their deaths, a third slab was created after Sapieha's death in 1633, and the three slabs were later incorporated into a single monument
Wives commemoratedElżbieta Radziwiłł (died 1591) and Dorothea Firlej (died 1611)
Person commemoratedLew Sapieha, Grand Chancellor and Grand Hetman of Lithuania

Location and ownership

LocationChurch of St. Michael the Archangel, Vilnius

Physical characteristics

HeightAbout 10 m
CompositionComplex, heterogeneous monument with three tomb slabs, three black marble plaques, coats of arms, figures, and additional sculptural decoration

Materials

MaterialBlack marble

Appearance

PedimentBroken arch pediment
Visual characteristicsRich in tonal variation, with a complex, tense silhouette and disproportionate angels in the pediment

Iconography and meaning

Depicted figuresLew Sapieha and his two wives; the resurrected Christ; angels; Saint Elizabeth the Righteous; Saint Dorothy; soldiers sleeping by the coffin
SymbolismCoats of arms and attributes of military glory and valor

History and restoration

Workshop participationOther sculptors from Sala's workshop also participated in executing the monument
Upper figuresFigures of the resurrected Christ and angels on the pediment arch, executed by Sebastian Sala and noted for their fine modeling
Central reliefsThe central reliefs are considered weaker and were probably executed by other masters

Significance

Art historical significanceConsidered one of the most valuable monuments of early Baroque sacred sculpture in the region

Other

Dedicated toLew Sapieha and his two wives