In 1454 Duchess of Masovia Anna Fiodorowna, coming from a RuthenizedLithuanian princely house, founded this church with a cloister for the Franciscan friars. The square in front of the church was a place of solemn homages to Polish monarchs by the rulers of Prussia. In 1582 a slender tower was added to the church. Some time later it was encompassed with a rampart and incorporated into the cityfortifications. The St. Anne's Church was reconstructed several times in 1603, 1634, 1636 and in 1667. Between 1740 and 1760 the façade was reconstructed in rococo style according to Jakub Fontana's design and decorated with two filigree belfries. The walls and semicircular vault ceilings of the church, divided into bays, were decorated at that time with profuse paintings in perspective, using illusionary techniques and depicting scenes in the life of Saint Anne. A chapel of Saint Ładysław was also decorated in this fashion. All paintings were by Friar Walenty Żebrowski. The church was reconstructed for the last time between 1786 and 1788 by order of King Stanisław August Poniatowski. During the Warsaw Uprising of 1794, part of the nationalKościuszko Uprising in 1794, Bishop Józef Kossakowski, considered the traitor of the nation, was executed in front of the church. The roof of the church was heavily damaged in the air raid on Warsaw in 1939 and then destroyed by fire in 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising but soon repaired. In 1949 the walls were undermined by the excavation for the WZ route and had to be quickly reinforced. Restoration of all elements was undertaken from the 1940s-70s, supervised by architect.
Façade and interior
The present façade was built in 1788 in a Neoclassical style typical of the reign of King Stanisław August Poniatowski, by Chrystian Piotr Aigner. Sculptors of that time were Jakub Monaldi and Franciszek Pinck, who carved statues of the Four Evangelists which decorate the façade. The interior of the church is now in high-baroque style with several chapels. The church makes an overwhelming impression on the visitor with its surprisingly rich interior filled with frescoes. The only example of a diamond vault preserved in Warsaw can be seen in the cloister leading to the vestry.
