Collected works of Jan Matejko

This year is the year of 175th birth anniversary and 120th death anniversary of Jan Matejko, one of the most outstanding Polish artists, representing the trend of historical painting.

On this occasion, at the Gallery of 20th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice - the Department of the National Museum in Krakow, an inauguration ceremony of the Year of Jan Matejko at the National Museum in Krakow was held, comprising promotional, educational, exhibition and scientific activities. 

One more time the Museum wishes to present this extraordinary painter from Krakow to public and show his diverse activities - as an artist, teacher, collector, defender of historic buildings, as well as a commentator and promoter of the history of Poland.

The House of Jan Matejko (at 41 Floriańska Street) invites for an exhibition entitled "Collected works of Jan Matejko" - one more exhibition from the cycle "The Great Props Room" (the first, garments and costumes from the collection of Jan Matejko, could be seen at this Department by 17th February of this year), which shows pieces from the rich collection of the painter from Krakow, this time connected mainly with the history of Poland and the culture of the Middle East and Russia.

We can see among others: a traditional dress of Polish noblemen - the property of Daniłowicz, an uncle to Jan III Sobieski, and a hat from Napoleonic times shown in Matejko's painting "Kościuszko pod Racławicami" ("Tadeusz Kościuszko at the battle of Racławice") (1888) as a hat of general Józef Zajączek.  The Middle East garments presented at the exhibition include a Turkish women's outwear made of purple velvet, a scarf and shoes embroidered with colorful plant-like motifs. Caps and "epaneczka" - a kind of ladies' wear - come from Russia. The exhibition also shows: belts, pouches, bags, gloves, beads, decorative haberdashery, appliqué designs, often presented by Jan Matejko as decorations of garments in many of his historic paintings, including: "Otrucie królowej Bony" ("The Poisoning of Bona Sforza") (1859), "Unia lubelska" ("Union of Lublin") (1869), "Bitwa pod Grunwaldem" ("The Battle of Grunwald") (1878), "Hołd pruski" ("The Prussian Homage") (1882).

An exceptional attraction for the public is the tomb Crown - which, as tradition has it, is the property of Sigismund I of Poland (born 1.01.1467 – deceased 1.04.1548), donated to Matejko to include in his collections by an anonymous benefactor. For the past 50 years Crown was kept at the Treasury of the Wawel Royal Castle. Now, after conservation performed by the Workshop of Fabric Conservation and the Workshop of Metal and Weapons Conservation of the National Museum in Krakow, it will be exhibited to the public.

National Museum in Krakow - the House of Jan Matejko, at 41 Floriańska Street
Curator: Marta Kłak-Ambrożkiewicz
Coordinator: Agnieszka Zagrajek

Honorary Media Patron: Polish Radio
Partner -  the Primary Music School in Dobczyce (the performer of a series of concerts as part of celebrations of the Year of Jan Matejko at the National Museum in Krakow)
Media patrons: TVP Kraków, Radio Kraków, Dziennik Polski, Karnet, krakow Post, Cracow-life, www.krakow.pl, telewizjaM

Photo: Jan Matejko, 1870's, an archival protograph