The City Hall – a masterpiece by master from Lugano

Buildings serving as the residence of the authorities, city halls in particular, reflected the political situation in the city at the time. The language of architecture was clear to everyone and showed who held power in the city, what they believed in and what they strived for. Poznań was a royal city. Therefore, the City Hall featured a depiction of sympathetic rulers. On the other hand, the local government put emphasis on its independence and prestige, for example by placing the coats of arms of mayors on the façade.

In 1536 Poznań’s City Hall suffered badly in a fire. The City Council was looking for an expert who would take on the task of rebuilding it. A talented and experienced architect, Giovanni Battista di Quadro from Lugano, was recommended. He remodelled the old Gothic building and gave it a modern Renaissance look. Up to this day, the façade features the remains of a writing saying: ‘Hoc opus artificis Joannis Baptistae Itali’ – ‘this is the work of Giovanni Battista, an Italian artist’. The scale of the project pleased the City Council, which commissioned also other public buildings from him: the Weigh House and several other buildings used for trade.

Quadro was granted Poznań citizenship and married a townswoman, Barbara Sztametówna. He also tried his hand at business: he bought two tenement houses, ran a winery, a brickyard and a bathhouse. However, he soon found himself in reduced circumstances because of debts and lawsuits.  Remembering what he did for the city, the City Council decided to help him and gave him allowance and a small flat in an overhang at Masztalarska Street.

Giovanni Battista di Quadro, the creator of the Renaissance City Hall. This depiction comes from a tenement house in the Old Market Square, which once belonged to the Italian artist, photo by J. Tritt