Mehoffer's Garden

• Mehoffer's garden constitutes somewhat of an extension of the display and – like in the old days – contributes to the charm of the house. It is associated with the tradition of this part of Krakow, situated outside the old city walls. It was here that the Rudawa river once flowed and that mills and craft workshops were built for centuries, along with suburban gardens, which were gradually absorbed by the city.
  
  Having acquired the property in 1932, the painter redesigned its shape. It was the second garden he had arranged. The first one – located on the slope of a hill near the Mehoffers' manor house in Jankówka near Krakow and immortalised in the Red Umbrella painting – was created in 1907. This time, the garden was much smaller and bordered with high buildings. During the construction, the workers dug out numerous fragments of ornamental old tiles, dating back to as early as the Renaissance, as well as stone elements from Franciszek Wyspiański's atelier.
  
  The central part of the garden was designed by Mehoffer as a large lawn opening towards the house, enclosed on three sides by rows of fruit trees. In their shade ran a sand-covered alley. The lawn featured flower beds and a vegetable garden at the back. There were also some ornamental shrubs. The courtyard of the building at no. 22 Krupnicza Street was separated from this property by a row of slender poplars, while its windowless walls were covered with grapevine. From the house, the garden was accessible through the courtyard or directly from the terrace, and frequently provided the artist with painting themes. After the war, it gradually became wilder and overgrown with random plants and self-seeders.
  
  In 2003, the National Museum in Krakow recreated the garden on the basis of iconography and fieldwork, taking into consideration the preserved old trees (large elm, poplar). Therefore, its present general layout and selection of plants – fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and certain types of flowers – are similar to those in Mehoffer's days. One of its characteristic feature is, for example, a parterre with a circle of climbing roses with one in the centre, known from Mehoffer's painting created during the occupation and titled Garden in Krupnicza. The arrangement takes into account the needs of contemporary users. For example, in order to accommodate more guests, the square situated under the elm and opposite the stairs has been significantly extended, and a ramp has been built for wheelchairs. The garden was opened to the public on 20 May 2004. The author of its design is Dr Zofia Malinowska, a specialist in the field of reclamation and renovation of historic gardens, and works were carried out by Jacek Ginda's company from Krakow.
  
  In recognition of the restoration of Józef Mehoffer's former garden and making it available to the public, the Museum was granted Professor Janusz Bogdanowski Award, given to acknowledge „the concern for Krakow public space” and the Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage „Sybilla 2004”.
  
  The garden is open daily, from spring to autumn. It serves as a venue for concerts, workshops for children and special events during „Night of Museums”, „Garden Festival”, etc.
  
  Text by Anna Zeńczak – art historian, retired NMK curator. Expert in art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Author of studies on Józef Mehoffer's art.

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