IWONA SZUSTAKIEWICZ

The architect Julian Ankiewicz was professionally active in the second half of the 19^th century. He worked primarily in Warsaw. He designed many tenement houses, villas and public utility buildings. He was highly valued during his life, however later he became almost completely forgotten. The majority of his work was destroyed during the Second World War, and the only information, very short and rare biographical entries, was reduced to his life-span dates, and the place of birth and death. Only in-depth archival research enabled to depict his profile and explain the reasons for laconic biographical entries. Register books, preserved outside of Warsaw, include entries demonstrating the relatively lowly origins of the architect. The achievement of a significant professional position did not constitute a sufficient compensation in 19^th century society; therefore Julian Ankiewicz did not provide any relevant data to the public. The goal of the article is to present the results of the research regarding the architect’s biography, and to specify the most complete picture possible of his family relations, the course of his professional activities as a freelancing architect and employee of construction offices, and also conducted investments activity.

KEY WORDS

Warszawa, Julian Ankiewicz, 19^th century architecture, historicism, biographies of architects