Wall Paintings in Poland and Their Conservation Problems

Most wall paintings in Poland are located in churches and monasteries. They were created as architectural decorations, friezes, and - to a greater extent - as religious scenes, cycles of paintings, and altars. These categories apply to churches built of either brick or wood, dating from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. The remaining group of murals is located in palaces, private houses, and public buildings. The main reason for the devastation of these mural paintings in Poland, apart from damages caused by human activity, is the high level of dampness, which is a result of specific conditions of the Polish climate. This review summarizes the sources of dampness in buildings that has the destructive effects of salt and explains an action mechanism of the most efficient methods that can be used to drain historical buildings.