Generosity for the Church or a Passion for Beauty – in the World of Valuable Objects of the Bishop of Włocławek and the Archbishop of Gniezno Jakub of Sienno

Jakub of Sienno was one of the most interesting and significant people of Polish Church in the late Middle Ages. Very well educated, he was considered to be an art lover and bibliophile and like his cousin Zbigniew Oleśnicki, he was involved in several foundations and donations for the Church and Kraków University. The main aim of the paper was to discuss Jakub’s foundation and donation activity and an attempt to give an answer to the question about the reasons why he engaged in such a wide foundation activity. The author focused on those elements that distinguish his attitude to widely understood art from the attitude of other people of his time. Written sources (letters, bills, chapter’s books and biographies) provide numerous information about liturgical vessels, vestments and other precious objects or books that Jakub of Sienno acquired and sometimes brought from his journeys.

Great's court treasurer 1 . The year 1435 was a crucial year for Jakub. After returning from studies in Rome, he began his church career, taking dignity of a Kraków canon. Jakub owed his church career to his cousin -Zbigniew of Oleśnica, a cardinal and bishop of Kraków. Zbigniew helped him also to get into the royal court 2 . Jakub was a prelate and canon of numerous Polish chapters. Successively he was a Kraków canon, a Wiślica custodian, a Skalbmierz provost, a Kraków provost, a Gniezno canon, a Wrocław canon, a Włocławek canon and a Gniezno provost 3 . After the death of Zbigniew Oleśnicki, Jakub was the administrator of the Kraków diocese.
Important episodes in Jakub's life took place in 1460 -he came into a direct conflict with the King. In September, Kraków bishop Tomasz Strzępiński died 4 . After his death, Kraków chapter elected Jan Lutek of Brzezie as a new bishop (8 December 1460), and Pope Pius II appointed Jakub a bishop of Kraków (24 November 1460). However, both Pope's and the chapter's decisions were not accepted by the King, who wanted Jan Gruszczyński to become the bishop. In various ways Kazimierz Jagiellończyk tried to force Jakub and the chapter to change their minds (after the Pope's decision and resignation of Jan Lutek of Brzezie, some of the members of the chapter supported Jakub of Sienno). Jakub and the faithful chapter members aroused King's anger. He sentenced the banishment and confiscation of the goods of Jakub's supporters, and allowed to ravage their possessions. Even the papal curse did not stop him. But when in 1462 the Pope withdrew his nomination for Jakub, he decided to reconcile with Kazimierz Jagiellończyk. The former bishop of Kraków humbled himself before the King at Sejm in Piotrków Trybunalski in January 1463 5 . Shortly afterwards, disappointed with the fact that he was refused payment of the promised compensation, Jakub left Poland and went to Rome. And only two years later Jakub accepted King's proposition to be the bishop of Włocławek. He took that dignity in 1465 (papal provision: 19 October 1464) 6 . After ten years, 1 Most biographical facts: F. Kiryk, Jakub z Sienna (1413-1480 in 1474, he was transferred to Gniezno (papal decision: 17 December 1473, chapter election: 27 December 1473) 7 . As the archbishop of Gniezno and primate he was the one of the most powerful people in Poland. He had the first place and voice in the royal council. Jakub died on 4 October 1480 in Łowicz and was buried in the Gniezno cathedral 8 . His death occurred a few months after the death of his friend Jan Długosz. Jakub and Jan had very close relations, probably because they were peers and both devoted to Zbigniew Oleśnicki. Długosz often helped Jakub by granting him guarantees. The chronicler showed his friendship and affection, also defending Jakub in letters to the cardinal 9 , and later supporting him despite the King's anger and its consequences. According to Długosz, Jakub's biggest flaw was irascibilitas. But Jakub was easily angry as he regained his composure 10 . The chronicler dedicated two his works to Jakub: Catalogus Archiepiscoporum Gneznesium and Catalogus episcoporum Wladislaviensium.

ITALIAN PEREGRINATION OF JAKUB
His Italian peregrinations played an important role in his attitude to knowledge and art. In Italy, he came into contact with the developing culture of the early Renaissance. At first, before 1435, Jakub of Sienno studied theology and he might have studied canon law in Rome 11 . We must remember that at that time (pontificate of Eugene IV 1431-1447) Rome became an important university centre, and soon after -during the pontificate of Nicholas V -also one of important hearts of humanist culture 12  In 1459, he was a royal deputy to the Pope to submit an obedience on behalf of the King. There is a very interesting description of the entry of the legation, headed by Jakub to Rome. This retinue was to arouse the admiration of the Pope Pius II 14 . During his stay in Mantua, Jakub also dealt with the affairs of the Gniezno chapter. He brought the bull of Pius II for the chapter, approving the establishment of two canons for lectors of theology and canon law for Gniezno's cathedral 15 .
Four years later, he travelled to Rome again because of a dispute with the King about Kraków bishopric. The Pope accepted him in his court and made him an administrator of the castle in Tivoli (18 September 1464) 16 .
Jakub had contacts with representatives of the Italian Renaissance, especially with Enea Silvio de Piccolomini (later Pope Pius II). The Pope considered Jakub a learned man 17 . He corresponded by letter, i.a., with Taddeo of Trevizo 18 and Leonardo de Mansuetis. Jakub and Leonardo were peers from noble families, both took Church career. They had love of books and collected interesting libraries 19 . In a letter from Milan as of 4 September 1476, Mansuetis thanks Jakub for his warm welcome and help when he was in Poland 20 . Jakub was also a protector of Jakub Wodka of Kwidzyn, a well-known astronomer and medical doctor. In 1476, in Bologna, Jakub Wodka made a horoscope (annual prediction) for Jakub. This demonstrates Jakub's interest in astrology 21 .

JAKUB'S FOUNDATION ACTIVITY. A DUTY, GENEROSITY OR PASSION?
The paper will focus on such objects as stalls, paintings, books or liturgical vessels, vestments and other precious objects, but it is necessary to say a few words about Jakub's architectural foundations. He founded churches in Włocławek and Skierniewice, he expanded or renovated the castles in Raciążek, Wolbórz, Włocławek and Żnin. Jakub also financed the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Dormitory founded by his cousin cardinal Zbigniew Oleśnicki, which burnt in 1462 22 . It is worth mentioning that earlier, after the death of the cardinal, Jakub as the executioner of his will, supervised the completion of the Dormitory. Researchers believe that Jakub of Sienno had an interesting book collection created thanks to his trips to Italy. His collection consists of liturgical, legal and theological books as well as Greek late-Romanic and patristic ones. The preserved books have beautiful appearance -ornamentation and humanistic script (italics). Some of them have his coat of arms on its first folios. Jakub paid a very high price for some of his manuscripts. For example, in 1459 in Bologna, he paid 64 florens for Pliny's Historia naturalis 23 . Edward Potkowski believes that the library of Jakub of Sienno was a harbinger of a new type of library in Poland -Renaissance book collections (libraries of Maciej Drzewicki, Erazm Ciołek, Piotr Tomicki). Stefan Swieżawski also emphasizes the role of a library in shaping the new Renaissance mental formation 24 . He made his library not only for scientific and spiritual purpose, but also for his own pleasure.
Jakub of Sienno was a protector and benefactor of the Jagiellonian University. He gave some of his books as a gift to the university and, as it was mentioned above, he rebuilt the Jerusalem Dormitory. Jakub donated several manuscripts to the library of the  Ameisenowa,op. cit.,p. 39,40,49;E. Potkowski,op. cit.,p. 190. 26 AAG, ACap., B15, card 397v, k. 406v; J. Rył, Biblioteka katedralna w Gnieźnie, "Archiwa, Biblioteki i Muzea Kościelne" 1976, nr 32, p. 223. 27 AC, vol. I, no. 1205(15 VI 1470 tery in Oliwa 28 . We do not know what stalls looked like in Kraków and Włocławek churches, but the parts from the Gniezno cathedral show that they were masterpieces 29 . For the Gniezno cathedral Jakub funded rood beam with crucifix, which we can still admire 30 , and the painting of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin but it has not been preserved till now 31 . He also funded a new sarcophagus of St. Adalbertus for the Gniezno cathedral from Hungarian marble 32 , but this foundation was finished after his death by his relative archbishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki 33 . Thanks to Jakub's funds the reliquary of St. Adalbertus was adorned with gold 34 . Jakub is also considered to be the donor of the late Gothic altar retable in the Kraków cathedral. Jerzy Gadomski claims that the theme of the four patron saints (Adalbertus, Stanislaus, Venceslaus and Florianus), introduced into retable of the high altar, could have been the form of the execution of "ideological testament" of Jakub's cousin, cardinal Zbigniew Oleśnicki 35 . In 1460, he founded a bell named "Głownik" (Homicidalis) for this cathedral 36 . The inscription on the bell suggests that it was a joint foundation of Jakub and Kraków chapter.
In the chapter's books and his letters there is some information about liturgical vessels and vestments which were ordered, bought or donated by Jakub. Gniezno, asked the Council of the City of Gdańsk to force goldsmith Jan Kyellak to make a silver cantharum. The silver for the work had been given to the goldsmith by Jakub during his stay with the King in Malbork 37 . In the book of the City Council of Gdańsk in 1480, there was an agreement signed between the Gdańsk goldsmith Johann Kalner and the Archbishop of Gniezno. From the records we know that Jakub entrusted the master with the execution, melting of gold, silver, processing of pearls, sapphire and amethyst, and the Archbishop gave the goldsmith a down payment 38 .
From the records in the book of the chapter of Włocławek we know that Jakub gave pontifical vesture: mitre with pearls, two bishop's rings, pastoral stuff, sandals and gloves, gold catena cum lapidibus pretiosis and mappa magna cum Sibilli et Octaviano, which is considered to be Flanders with an interesting motif of Sibyl telling Augustus about the coming of the Saviour 39 . Also in treasure chests in Gniezno there were precious objects, which were given to cathedral Church by Jakub. He donated two crucifixes, one with True Cross relic, a silver bell and two tapestries, one with Deposition of the Cross, and second with the Virgin Mary 40 .
The foundation activity of Jakub of Sienno was extensive and varied. However, his motive are not fully clear for us. The duty had been the reason for some of foundations and donations. Jakub, first as a provost, later as a bishop, was obliged to care for the building of the cathedral. The bishop and the chapter had to pay for expansion and necessary repairs of the cathedral church. In Gniezno, the archbishop had to pay two-thirds of the contribution pro fabrica ecclesie 41 . On the other hand, he could have enough funds to commission stalls or a painting from Kraków or Gdańsk craftsmen. First, he accumulated numerous benefices in many Polish cathedral and collegiate chapters, which gave him a lot of income. For example, income of Skalbmierz provost was estimated at 124 marks 42 , Kraków canon -on average 84 marks (from 30 to 144 marks) and Kraków provost at about 170 marks 43 . The chapter members could get benefits from lease of chapter villages. They also could receive distributions for complying with the residence requirement. It is worth noting that the income of the Archbishopric of Gniezno was estimated at 11,000 marks. However, we know that sometimes he had to borrow money for his needs. On 31 July 1459, Jakub borrowed 1,000 florins from Jan Długosz and his brother. Such amount of money was probably needed to travel to Mantua. Jan Długosz vowed several times for Jakub that he would return the money 44 .
Jakub had a great passion for books, which can be evidenced by the manuscripts he bought: adorned with beautiful illuminations, they have very interesting and rich ornament motifs. Works of Pliny, Cyril of Alexandria and Gregory of Nyssa were probably calligraphic of italica in Florence on very good quality parchment 45 .
And the fact that he was entrusted by chapter with the task of transforming valuables from the treasury into chalices or other liturgical objects may show that he had good knowledge of the craftsmen's community and good taste. For example, in chapter's book of Gniezno it was written under 1460 that Jakub of Sienno, the Gniezno provost, brought a golden chalice made of gold and jewels from an old chasuble 46 .
In addition, generosity was a good trait for bishop, and his merit and foundations, according to Długosz, was worth commemorating in the lives of bishops to be an example for their successors.

CONCLUSIONS
To conclude, I think that bibliophile passion of Jakub is clear. Also we can prove his care for the cathedral buildings, but it is difficult to say why he was generous for the Church and the University. During his trips, Jakub certainly had contacts with the Italian Renaissance culture, so the image of Jakub as a humanist, as well as an expert and patron of art, which has been present in historiography since Długosz, is likely.