Page:Cracow - Lepszy.djvu/161

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ART FROM THE RENASCENCE
141

to imitate pictures—and painting, on the other hand, attempting to reproduce sculptures. In all this, there is that chaotic confusion of artistic principles which makes baroque art appear as the degeneration and decay of Renascence.

Among the secular buildings of the period, the palace of the Wielopolski family—the present Town Hall—deserves special mention. It is a monumental structure in late Renascence style, somewhat like the Palazzo di Venezia at Rome, the interior
62. COURTYARD OF THE HOUSE, NO. 20, CENTRAL SQUARE.
distinguished by beautiful vaultings and a staircase of noble forms. Here and there, in the streets of the city, we come upon interesting portals of houses, e.g., that of No. 20, John Street, showing a luxuriance of baroque forms; in others, there are spacious entrance halls, e.g., in No. 20, Central Square, where there is also the usual arcade court of Renascence architecture in the modified arrangement of this later period. This court was perhaps a work of the Flemish architect, Hendrick van Peene,