Preliminary communication
Church of the Holy Trinity with Franciscan Monastery in Karlovac: Results of Research Conducted During Structural Renovation
Sonja Kočevar
; Ministry of Culture and Media, Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Conservation Department in Karlovac
Abstract
In the Karlovac County, a total of 13 structural renovation programs were implemented through the EU Solidarity Fund, including six for the renovation of sacral buildings and seven for public buildings. Among these, the Church of the Holy Trinity with the Franciscan Monastery is undoubtedly the key capital structural renovation program, as it is the largest and most layered sacral complex in the city of Karlovac. A complete review of all activities and interventions carried out as part of the emergency damage removal measures, as well as the measures for static stabilization and improvement of earthquake resistance within the framework of overall structural renovation, provides a comprehensive overview of the work performed to a greater or lesser extent across all programs: the reinforcement of the foundation through sequenced underpinning or micropiling, installation of horizontal beam rings on top of the perimeter walls, construction of new roof structures, execution of stabilization grids above the vaults of sacral buildings and installation or restoration of tie rods in the heels of the arches, implementation of composite mezzanine structures in public buildings, reinforcement of all walls and vaults through grouting and using systems of reinforced plaster, and connecting the walls with anchor rods.
The adoption of these interventions represented a departure from established conservation practices to a certain extent. This was done to meet more pressing conditions, fulfill obligations to achieve legally prescribed levels of earthquake resistance and adapt to real-world circumstances within the context of measures aimed at managing the risk of new disasters. However, through the implementation of these interventions and the subsequent evaluation of the applied measures, preliminary assessments of the project's success from a conservation perspective can be made, with particular attention to identifying any potential negative effects: this primarily concerns the use of materials that cause irreversible loss of the layering of historical structures or introduce excessive moisture into the structure during installation, which consequently jeopardizes the plaster layers, especially the painted sections.
Therefore, the implementation of measures for static stabilization and improving earthquake resistance as part of a comprehensive structural renovation requires a more detailed review in the future, free from time and financial constraints, which will most likely lead to the establishment of new principles.
Structural renovation of the Church of the Holy Trinity with the Franciscan Monastery is an extremely complex project imbued with various thematic units. Therefore, this paper highlights three topics related to specific research conducted during the renovation. Documents from the time capsule found inside the steeple ball of the bell tower reveal unknown historical facts, and the listed names, titles and professions testify in a positive way about the system that highly valued and appreciated skills, science and education. Research results related to the material and symbolism of the design of the cross and the gilding of the bulb reveal a pattern reflecting the relationship to art and heritage, specifically the old masters' aspiration for artistic refinement. The results of the conservation and restoration investigation work carried out within the complex, especially the discovery of older paintings on the walls and vaults of the church and side chapels, required the conservation department to make demanding assessments of the value of individual layers. Additionally, the constant threat of paintings collapsing or being damaged challenged the reversibility of stabilization procedures. Ultimately, it was decided to document and remove the upper layers to facilitate the future valorization of each layer and phase of liturgical wall paintings, particularly the presentation of the valuable baroque phase, in accordance with established value criteria.
The review of archaeological investigations refutes archival records about the existence of a crypt in the bell tower, and brings new knowledge about the levels, types and design of the walking surfaces in the nave of the church, especially the stone floor, which serves as a specific example of how the old masters presented layered construction. The archaeological finds of approximately one hundred graves confirm that those who were granted the privilege were buried in three levels. The two stone crypts are an exceptional architectural structure. Their closed form of buried half-cylinders and sealed structure reveal the methods employed to manage underground water, floods and epidemics. The condition in which they were found lacks any comparable examples.
The history of the Church of the Holy Trinity with the Franciscan Monastery is also the history of the Karlovac Star itself, since it is located in its center. Even though the fortress was built for military purposes to defend against the Ottoman threat, major changes and reconstructions, both of the city and the church, were primarily the result of natural disasters—floods, fires and earthquakes. The consequences of the 2020 earthquake in Petrinja might actually be described as “a blessing in disguise” because they prompted interventions on the church and monastery complex that had not been recorded since Stiller’s significant reconstruction in the late 18th century. The conducted research yielded exceptional results and confirmed that, from the establishment of the Karlovac fortress to the present day, the Church of the Holy Trinity with the Franciscan Monastery is not only the largest and most layered sacral complex, but also the historical center of spiritual, educational, cultural and artistic life in the city of Karlovac.
Keywords
Karlovac; earthquake; structural renovation; Church of the Holy Trinity; Franciscan monastery; wall paintings; archaeological research; crypts; bell tower; time capsule; cross; gilt; Karlovac Star
Hrčak ID:
334857
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2024.
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