VINCAS
SVIRSKIS
Vincas Svirskis (1835-1916), folk
sculptor, born in Glitenai, county of Panevezys, on Jan. 28, 1835. His
entire life was devoted to carving monumental crosses. He traveled from
village to village and practiced his art with simple and crude tools,
creating a distinctive style of cross. In his earlier years, the figures
of saints carved on the vertical beam of the cross had noticeable Gothic
features, whereas later these showed an influence of the Baroque style.
He worked only on oak, preferring thick, branchy trunks. The figures are
distributed in various ways, occasionally taking up only one side, but
more often occurring on two, three or even four sides. All together he
carved out over two hundred crosses.
Prepared
by “Encyclopedia Lituanica”. II. Boston, 1972. P. 347-348.
Photo by Danute Mukiene.
The fragment of the cross, V. Svirskis.
Kedainiai Museum.
