Giuseppe Antonio Corazzi (1792-1877) was one of the leading architects of classicism, whose work in the Kingdom of Poland had a lasting influence on the architecture of Warsaw and other cities. His works, inspired by Italian traditions, fitted perfectly into the Polish architectural context, harking back to the Stanislaus era.
Antonio Corazzi was born in Livorno as the son of a theatre impresario. After graduating from the Piarist school in 1811, he began his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, which he completed around 1816. In 1818, on the initiative of Stanisław Staszic, the authorities of the Kingdom of Poland asked the Tuscan government to send the architect to work in Poland. A year later, Corazzi arrived in Warsaw, where he began his professional activity. After almost three decades of work in Poland, he returned to Italy, where, among other things, he designed buildings for the parliament and theatres.
Antonio Corazzi. Source: cyfroweemazowsze.pl
The artist died in Florence in 1877, leaving behind a rich architectural legacy that influenced both the Polish and European urban landscape. Corazzi’s work coincided with the formation of neoclassicism in Warsaw, where the traditions of Stanislawski architecture were still alive. Between 1819 and 1847, Corazzi completed as many as 50 projects in Poland, 45 of them in Warsaw alone. These were both public buildings and urban planning projects.
The most important projects
1. Grand Theatre in Warsaw
The Grand Theatre in Warsaw is one of the largest and most important opera houses in Europe. It was built between 1825 and 1833. The building is located on Teatralny Square and is a key example of neo-classical architecture in Poland. The monumental façade of the Grand Theatre with its columned portico refers to ancient models, emphasising the institution’s rank and prestige. The building was severely damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s under the direction of Bohdan Pniewski.
The building of the Grand Theatre before the war and today. Source: Digital National Library Polona and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
Today, the Grand Theatre – National Opera is the home of Polish opera and ballet, hosting both classical and contemporary stage works. It is a place of exceptional cultural significance, attracting artists and audiences from all over the world.
2. Staszic Palace
Staszic Palace is one of the most important neo-classical monuments in Warsaw, located on Nowy Świat Street. It was built in the years 1820-1823 on the initiative of Stanisław Staszic. Initially, it housed the Society of Friends of Science, for which it was intended. The building is distinguished by its simple, elegant form, characteristic of classicism. The central part of the façade is decorated with a portico with columns, and the whole is topped with a tympanum.
Staszic Palace after the Second World War damage and today. Source: digitalemazowsze.pl and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
In the 19th century, the palace underwent reconstruction in Byzantine-Russian style, but between 1924 and 1926 it was restored to its original classicist character. It is now the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences and scientific institutions.
3. Mostowskich Palace
Mostowskich Palace is located on Nowolipie Street. It was erected in the years 1762-1765 on the order of Tadeusz Mostowski, Voivode of Płock, according to a design by Efraim Schroeger. In the years 1823-1826 the building was thoroughly rebuilt according to the design of Antonio Corazzi, giving it the forms of late classicism, with an elegant façade with a characteristic pediment and harmonious proportions. It was partially destroyed during the Second World War.
The building in 1939 and today. Source: National Archive in Warsaw and Mateusz Polkowski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PL, via Wikimedia Commons
Today, the palace is the headquarters of the Capital Police Headquarters, serving an administrative function. With its rich history and architecture, it is an important part of Warsaw’s cultural heritage.
4. Palace of the Government Commission of Revenue and Treasury
The Palace of the Government Commission of Revenue and Treasury is an impressive building located on Plac Bankowy. It was built between 1823 and 1825 and was the seat of the Government Commission of Revenue and Treasury of the Kingdom of Poland. A characteristic feature of the palace is its monumental façade with a six-column portico topped by a tympanum. The building reflects Corazzi’s typical combination of classicist elegance and functionality.
Years 1935-1939 and 2023. Frontage of the palace of the Government Commission for Revenue and Treasury. Source: Digital National Library Polon and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the building served various administrative functions and now houses, among others, the seat of the Warsaw City Council. The Palace is one of the most important buildings located at Bankowy Square.
5. The Warsaw Stock Exchange and Bank Building
The Exchange and Bank of Poland Building was erected in the years 1825-1828. It is located at Bankowy Square in Warsaw and originally served as the seat of the Exchange and the Bank of Poland. It is characterised by harmonious, classicist architecture with a column portico in the central part of the façade. The building was designed with the prestigious location and representative character of financial institutions in mind.
The Bank of Poland and Stock Exchange building in 1938 and today. Source: Digital National Library Polon and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
It was partially destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the post-war years. Today, the building is an important historical landmark, an example of Warsaw’s early 19th century classical architecture.
Although Corazzi was mainly a creator of Warsaw architecture, his projects realised in other cities of the Kingdom of Poland are also known. Between 1825 and 1827 he built the palace of the Provincial Government in Radom. In 1837 he designed the palace of Baron Edward Rastawiecki in Dołhobyczów, and in the following years he designed, among others, a church (1834) and a gymnasium (1841) in Siedlce, as well as gymnasiums in Płock and Suwałki, both from 1834.
As an architect of the Tuscan school, Corazzi was able to adapt to local traditions and conditions. His buildings are distinguished by simplicity of form, moderation in ornamentation and noble proportions. In the tightly built streets of Warsaw, his buildings blended harmoniously with their surroundings, creating unified urban compositions. For his services, Corazzi was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus, 4th Class, in 1829.
Upon his return to Florence, Corazzi continued his design activities, creating concepts for the parliament buildings and Dante’s Pantheon, among others. He gained recognition as a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, leaving a lasting mark on European architecture and a rich heritage full of harmony, functionality and classical elegance.
Source: teatrnn.pl, niezalezna.pl
Read also: Architects | Urban planning | Monuments | History | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
