Pranciškaus Mikutaičio kūriniai
Works by Pranciškus Mikutaitis

Summary/Abstract: Pranciškus Mikutaitis (1890–1988) is one of the most significant and versatile church artists of the Jurbarkas region who produced retables and other equipment, sculptures, crosses and paintings. He made a distinct contribution to the decoration of churches, churchyards and cemeteries in Užnemunė and other regions of Lithuania. It should be noted that much of Mikutaitis’ paintings and carvings were executed between the 1940s and 1970s, i. e. under the most adverse conditions for the activity of the church.From the artistic point of view, Mikutaitis’ work is not uniform. Though his works, especially religious sculptures and crosses, are classified as objects of folk art, sometimes they display a great mastery, which is an innovation in traditional woodcarving. On the other hand, a deliberate folk stylization and density of folk ornaments can be traced in his works of wood. With his lavishly decorated crosses, which had been displayed at the national exhibitions in the 1920s, Mikutaitis seems to have set the standard for the Pavasarininkai (a Catholic youth organization) cross. In the interwar years, putting up of elaborate ornamented crosses became a cherished tradition in various localities of Lithuania. Having abundantly produced sculptures of Christ in Distress for three decades since the late 1950s Mikutaitis, with the aid of clergymen and laypeople, might have had a decisive role in the popularization of the subject of Christ in Distress in Lithuania. His works spread outside of Lithuania as well.It is not certain whether the sculptor Vincas Grybas would have succeeded in realizing many of his sculptural projects, if he had not had such a diligent and skilful assistant as Mikutaitis by his side. Their joint work between 1929 and 1934 may be considered as a distinctive example of an exceptionally productive cooperation in the artistic life of Independent Lithuania, especially in the area of monumental sculpture.

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