The Jan Matejko House
The Jan Matejko House
The Jan Matejko House is located in the artist's family house at no. 41 Floriańska Street.
Jan Matejko (1838-1893) – the most prominent representative of the genre of Polish history painting, collector, professor and long-standing director of the School of Fine Arts in Krakow, the precursor of conservation and protection of monuments, a member of numerous artistic, scientific and public societies and associations,.
A society named after the artist, founded after his death, set itself a goal of honouring this prominent painter by creating a biographical museum devoted to his person in the house where he was born, lived with his family, created his paintings and passed away.
The systematic purchases and donations made it possible to acquire various artefacts related to Jan Matejko and his family, which were presented to the public for the first time as early as in 1898 in the building purchased from the family.
In 1904, the Jan Matejko Society transferred the biographical museum – which it created – under the administration of the National Museum in Krakow.
Today, the collection comprises more than 8,000 exhibits, including everyday objects and memorabilia of the artist and his family: his wife Teodora Matejko née Giebułtowska (1846-1896), children: Tadeusz (1865-1911), Helena Unierzyska (1867-1932), Beata Kirchmayer (1869-1926), Jerzy (1873-1827) and Regina (1878-1878) as well as other family members.
The collection features works representing all stages of the painter's work: early oil studies, small compositional sketches for large canvases on historical themes (such as 'Nicolas Copernicus' [1871], 'John III Sobieski Hands Canon Denhoff a Letter to the Pope with the News of the Victory over the Turks at Vienna in the Year 1683' [1880]), portraits of his family and friends, as well as his 'Self-Portrait' from 1887.
A valuable collection of drawings has been grouped into: sketches for historical compositions, studies for portraits, costumes, architecture and landscape, as well as decorative arts. A special place belongs to family caricatures and watercolour paintings on historical themes.
The building also houses numerous cartoon designs for the wall paintings in St Mary's Church in Krakow (1889-1891). This project led to a renewed interest in mural painting in the works of his students: Stanisław Wyspiański and Józef Mehhofer.
Recognition for Jan Matejko's achievements is expressed through numerous Polish and foreign medals, diplomas, certificates of membership in artistic and academic associations, as well as a 'scepter as a symbol of reigning in art' presented to the artist by the Krakow City Council in 1878.
The collection also features valuable documents, such as Matejko's letters to his family and friends, as well as autographs of Henryk Sienkiewicz, Władysław Czartoryski, Jacek Malczewski, Stanisław Tarnowski and Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz.
In addition, the creators of the Museum gathered photographic documentation of the painter's work, a large part of which comes from the artist's collection, such as photographs depicting Jan Matejko himself, people from his entourage, as well as his models.
Matejko's collection also contains examples of decorative arts, textiles, clothing and militaria, which often served him as props in his artistic work – many of these objects constitute unusual and interesting exhibits of significant artistic and material value. One example of these is a unique set of of torture instruments saved by Matejko from destruction during the renovation of the former city hall tower. Jan Matejko's book collection includes old prints dating back to the period from the 16th to the 18th century, and publications on history and art, frequently featuring dedications to the artist. It also features volumes devoted to Jan Matejko which were published after his death in 1893.
Objects which do not constitute part of the permanent gallery are exhibited as part of temporary exhibitions.
The Jan Matejko House conducts research into the collection and promotes the unknown aspects of the artist's life and work.
Jan Matejko (1838-1893) – the most prominent representative of the genre of Polish history painting, collector, professor and long-standing director of the School of Fine Arts in Krakow, the precursor of conservation and protection of monuments, a member of numerous artistic, scientific and public societies and associations,.
A society named after the artist, founded after his death, set itself a goal of honouring this prominent painter by creating a biographical museum devoted to his person in the house where he was born, lived with his family, created his paintings and passed away.
The systematic purchases and donations made it possible to acquire various artefacts related to Jan Matejko and his family, which were presented to the public for the first time as early as in 1898 in the building purchased from the family.
In 1904, the Jan Matejko Society transferred the biographical museum – which it created – under the administration of the National Museum in Krakow.
Today, the collection comprises more than 8,000 exhibits, including everyday objects and memorabilia of the artist and his family: his wife Teodora Matejko née Giebułtowska (1846-1896), children: Tadeusz (1865-1911), Helena Unierzyska (1867-1932), Beata Kirchmayer (1869-1926), Jerzy (1873-1827) and Regina (1878-1878) as well as other family members.
The collection features works representing all stages of the painter's work: early oil studies, small compositional sketches for large canvases on historical themes (such as 'Nicolas Copernicus' [1871], 'John III Sobieski Hands Canon Denhoff a Letter to the Pope with the News of the Victory over the Turks at Vienna in the Year 1683' [1880]), portraits of his family and friends, as well as his 'Self-Portrait' from 1887.
A valuable collection of drawings has been grouped into: sketches for historical compositions, studies for portraits, costumes, architecture and landscape, as well as decorative arts. A special place belongs to family caricatures and watercolour paintings on historical themes.
The building also houses numerous cartoon designs for the wall paintings in St Mary's Church in Krakow (1889-1891). This project led to a renewed interest in mural painting in the works of his students: Stanisław Wyspiański and Józef Mehhofer.
Recognition for Jan Matejko's achievements is expressed through numerous Polish and foreign medals, diplomas, certificates of membership in artistic and academic associations, as well as a 'scepter as a symbol of reigning in art' presented to the artist by the Krakow City Council in 1878.
The collection also features valuable documents, such as Matejko's letters to his family and friends, as well as autographs of Henryk Sienkiewicz, Władysław Czartoryski, Jacek Malczewski, Stanisław Tarnowski and Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz.
In addition, the creators of the Museum gathered photographic documentation of the painter's work, a large part of which comes from the artist's collection, such as photographs depicting Jan Matejko himself, people from his entourage, as well as his models.
Matejko's collection also contains examples of decorative arts, textiles, clothing and militaria, which often served him as props in his artistic work – many of these objects constitute unusual and interesting exhibits of significant artistic and material value. One example of these is a unique set of of torture instruments saved by Matejko from destruction during the renovation of the former city hall tower. Jan Matejko's book collection includes old prints dating back to the period from the 16th to the 18th century, and publications on history and art, frequently featuring dedications to the artist. It also features volumes devoted to Jan Matejko which were published after his death in 1893.
Objects which do not constitute part of the permanent gallery are exhibited as part of temporary exhibitions.
The Jan Matejko House conducts research into the collection and promotes the unknown aspects of the artist's life and work.