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We contacted Robert Zilinskas, an architect of the highest category of research, design and architectural experience, who carried out the architectural research of this building in 2017. By observing the holes already cut, the specialist assured that the designers followed their investigation, not deviated from them: the gates in these places were also in the nineteenth century.
The history of the building is impressive, many of the names of the famous noble Oginskis family intertwine here. By delving into the history of this cultural heritage object, there is an opportunity to increase interest in it, draw public attention, and help understand its value.
According to the researcher, there are no photos that clearly show the door, but Vladas Drėma’s book “Lost Vilnius” contains a map of Rūdninkų Street 1834, where it can be seen that the door was there. And they were the same width as the windows. At that time, the ground floor of the building was rented to merchants, so many doors were needed. Architect R. Zilinkas used 16 archival sources and publications in his architectural research report, as well as in-kind data obtained by probing the building. A photo taken by Jan Bulhak in 1944 also shows doors.
In 1944, Jan Bulhak took a photo. Rūdninkų st. 8 watch the door openings.
The intertwined history of Oginskis
This building with baroque and classicist characteristics, the second building in the Ignotas Oginskis Palace complex, was registered in the Register of Cultural Heritage in 2002 (unique code – 26200). Built in the 16th century, 1768-1771. partially reconstructed (the author of the reconstruction project is the architect Tommaso Russeli, who was living in Vilnius at that time). The building was renovated in 1977-1980. (The author of the restoration project is the architect Audronis Katilius).
This ensemble of the Oginskiai Palace spans the entire neighborhood between Arklių and Rūdninkų streets. Interestingly, the main entrance to the palace was where the Youth Theater now stands. It is quite a large palace. The brick houses on both streets already existed in the 16th century. In them are the noble Oginskis from 1641 to 1775. He bought about 20 smaller estates with houses around the neighborhood, which were later merged into a magnificent palace complex. The palace buildings near Arklių Street were formed in the 18th century. In the first half and on Rūdninkų street, at the end of the same century. According to R. Zilinskas, this side was more economical, intended for rent and from Arklių Street – representative.
Probably the most important construction work took place in the time of Ignotas Oginskis (1698-1775). Ignotas is a military and political figure in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Relying on the trust of the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Augustus III, Ignotas, as an envoy of the Republic of the Two Nations, was even sent to Saint Petersburg on two occasions. 1736 Ignot received the Order of the White Eagle. It is the oldest and most honorable award of the Republic of the Two Nations. Ignotas is one of the first Lithuanian Freemasons.
Ignoto’s wife (his relative) Elena Oginskytė-Oginskienė (1700-1792) was also a well-known nobleman. Elena was quite active in political life. In Mintauja (present-day Jelgava, Latvia) he befriended Duchess Anna of Curland in 1730. She became a Tsarist of Russia and from 1731. (invited by the Tsarist) before her marriage in 1739. Lived in Moscow with Ignotas Oginskis . Historical sources mention that Western diplomats accredited in Moscow described Elena as a “beautiful and intelligent Pole.”
Since the first owners of the building, Ignotas and Elena, did not have children, Elena, who was left a widow, donated the palace to her husband’s brother, the Trakai Voivodeship, Lithuanian Chancellor Tadas Pranciškis Oginskis (1712-1783) and his son Ksaveras Pranciškis (1740-1814). Xavier and finished building the palace. “During Xavier’s government, the 19th century. and two doors were installed on the left, currently open. Two doors to the right were installed in the windows after the re-hijacking of the palace in 1863-1914. period, ”said R. Zilinskas.
Historical sources mention that Irenėjus, the son of Mykolas Kleopas Oginskis, the composer and author of the famous polonaise “Farewell to the Fatherland”, also lived in this palace. He was the grandson of Xaver’s brother, who had finished building the palace. It is probable that the famous polonaise sounded within the walls of this palace …
It is known from history that because of Oginskis’s participation in 1831. in an uprising by order of the emperor, this palace of his in 1834. was kidnapped (restricted use of property). According to the data of the Research Center for Architecture and Urbanism (researcher Mortas Baužienė), when in 1831 a military fortress was being built in Vilnius, all the military services on its territory did not fit, then the headquarters of the Vilnius Division was moved to the Oginskis Palace nationalized and confiscated. 1837 A three-story building was divided into the spacious courtyard, dividing the courtyard into two parts (now the Pranas Gudynas Restoration Center of the Lithuanian Art Museum, located in this building after reconstruction in 1977, operates in this building).
Once upon a time, the doors were partially blocked, leaving windows in those places. Photo from the Registry of Cultural Values 2013
After reconstructions in 1840. In the old Oginskis Palace, more institutions were established: the Commission for Recruitment, the State Property Chamber, the Vilnius County Court, the seat of the Commonwealth and the Chancellery. Rūdninkų st. The buildings were rented for apartments. Then many openings were built.
The architect R. Zilinskas found a record in historical sources that Oginskiai in 1847. Taxes were due on the palace and public lighting, so it can be concluded that the palace was later returned to the dukes after their kidnapping, but it is likely that didn’t live in it, so they cared less. After 1863. the rebel palace was re-kidnapped (confiscated).
Before World War I, there were many stores.
The researcher shared an interesting history of the building: after 1863. On the Arklių street side there was a club “Meeting of the Vilnius nobility”, and on the Rūdninkų street side before the First World War – gold products and silver from Šavelis Leizer, tobacco from Semion Laizer, shoes from Chaja Broid, Samuilas Klečkas and Aronas Leibovičius sugar shops.
“Already during the reign of Ksaver Oginskis in 1806. there were 7 stores in the building, one of which was large. The commercial purpose of the first floor of the building was planned by his father. As is known from historical sources, as early as 1790. there were three department stores in the palace building. Therefore, Oginskiai had dedicated half of Rūdninkų Street to commerce, so many doors were needed. This is what you see in 1864. in the layout of the building. “
Illustration from Rūdninkų Street Pavement / Architectural Research Report from 1834, showing that there were many doors here
After the First World War, this building housed a Jewish theater, and in the courtyard building – a Jewish gymnasium, elsewhere – dwellings. 1941 The Vaidila Theater was loaded into the palace in 1945. During World War II, the Germans established the Judenrat Jewish Council in the building on Rūdninkų Street. The entire palace complex entered the territory of the Great Jewish Ghetto.
No loss of facade composition
Currently, four historic door openings are exposed on the facade of the building. Two of them were installed during Oginskis’s reign, and two after 1863, when the building was turned over to other rulers after their kidnapping. According to R. Zilinskas, since these 4 door openings are also found in the investigated part of the facade of Rūdninkų street, therefore, their restoration, their position on the facade allows the openings to be opened without losing the composition of the facade and the authenticity of the building. The facade of the three-story building on the Rūdninkų street side has survived since construction carried out by Ignotas Oginskis. The whole of the irregular U-shaped palace surrounds a large courtyard.
The architectural research was commissioned to R. Zilinskas by the current owners of the building. “Having bought the premises where the military literature bookstore used to operate, later a children’s cafe, they are now preparing them for rent,” said R. Zilinskas.
How curiously the circle of history changed: the current owners decided to rent some smaller rooms instead of the bigger ones like before, so they are happy that the investigation of the building has revealed more doors here. So now it will be possible to install several smaller rooms. As it was in the time of Oginskis. By delving into the history of this cultural heritage object, there is an opportunity to increase interest in it, draw public attention, and help understand its value.
Researcher R. Zilinskas advised homeowners not to use silicate bricks to restore openings. “As no historical or iconographic data are preserved, as the doors looked like in the openings, it is necessary to install metal bars in these places, imitating the drawing of a door filming with a skylight typical of the Old Town of Vilnius, and a mesh door with aluminum frame behind. “When there is no data on the previous door drawing, no attempt is made to falsify history and ‘create’ a wooden door drawing, and modern means create a modern solution that is compatible with Vilnius Old Town,” he writes the architect R. Zilinskas in his report.
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