Życie i twórczość Franciszka Ksawerego Kowalskiego budowniczego guberni kieleckiej

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the profile and the work of the architect Franciszek Ksawery Kowalski (1827-1903) who played an important role in creating the exterior of Kielce city in the nineteenth century. In the middle of the 60-ies he received the post of a builder in Kielce district and since 1867 (the date of setting up Kielce province) he held the post of a province builder in Kielce for the next 30 years. In those days, we can venture a conclusion that he monopolized designing more representative buildings, especially the public ones. Among more important projects finalized by him in Kielce region, one should mention guiding the restoration and rebuilding works of the collegiate church of those days and Bishops’ Palace, rebuilding of town-hall, rebuilding St. Wojciech church, supervision over the renovation of so called Leonards building, project of the turret in Holy Trinity church, Ludwik’s hotel and theatre projects, Stumpf brewery project, project and supervision over the enlargement of the “old” cemetery, etc. He also made some projects of the altars and sculptures. The article briefly describes the works made by Franciszek Kowalski, most attention was paid to restoration of Kielce cathedral.