Palace of Art
Kraków Artists: Painters and Sculptors
The seat of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts at Szczepański Square 4, serving as an art gallery. The Secession-style building was designed by Franciszek Mączyński on the model of the Secession Pavilion in Vienna and was erected in 1898-1901. The most outstanding Kraków artists took part in its decoration: the striking frieze was designed by Jacek Malczewski, and Antoni Madeyski, Konstanty Laszczka and Teodor Rygier made busts of masters who had served Polish art. The facade is adorned with a columned portico crowned by a figure of Apollo in a sunburst halo; on the square side stands a bust of Matejko, and on the side of the Planty a bust of Wyspiański.
History
The Palace of Art at 4 Szczepański Square is the Art Nouveau home of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts, founded in Kraków in 1854 on the initiative of Walery Wielogłowski. Members bought shares entitling them to take part in an annual draw of works of art purchased by the board - one of the prizes was Jan Matejko's "Stańczyk" - and to a free bonus in the form of a good print, usually a reproduction of a famous painting. Thanks to these bonuses, works by Matejko and other well-known painters found their way into many Polish homes in all three partitions.
The Society changed its premises several times; among others it occupied the Larisch Palace and some of the rooms in the Cloth Hall. Since 1901 it has had its own building. It was built in 1898-1901, when Edward Aleksander Raczyński was president. It was designed by Franciszek Mączyński, modelled on the Vienna Secession Building.
The most distinguished Kraków artists were invited to decorate it. The striking frieze on the changing fortunes of the artist was designed by Jacek Malczewski, and the busts of masters who served Polish art were made by Antoni Madeyski, Konstanty Laszczka and Teodor Rygier. The façade is crowned by a columned portico with a figure of Apollo in a sunburst halo. A bust of Jan Matejko by Madeyski adorns the side facing the square, while from the Planty Park side looks out a bust of Stanisław Wyspiański by Anna Reynoch.
Today the building hosts exhibitions of contemporary Polish art and of artists from abroad, as well as art auctions.
Did you know?
The Society's emblem shows three silver shields on a green background - the old coat of arms of the painters' guild.