The Princes Czartoryski Museum

The collections of the first museum in the territory of the Republic of Poland

The National Museum in Krakow

Compiled by Agata Jabłońska, based on the materials of the National Museum in Krakow

Palace of the Czartoryski PrincesThe National Museum in Krakow

The museum is located in buildings near Krakow's historic city walls.

Portrait of Princess Isabella Czartoryska née Fleming by Aleksander RoslinThe National Museum in Krakow

The beginnings of the Czartoryski family collection

... date back to 1801, when Izabela Czartoryska, née Flemming, a Polish aristocrat and patriot, opened the first museum in the territory of the Republic of Poland, a publicly available collection of works of art and national memorabilia.

Portraits of members of the Jagiellon family by Łukasz Cranach the younger - workshopThe National Museum in Krakow

The collect duchess in accordance with the spirit of the era – among the masterpieces of European art, you can find the so-called antiquities, peculiarities and art relics of the Far East.  (Portraits of members of the Jagiellonian family, Łukasz Cranach the Younger - workshop).

Shield So-called "Fortune-teller" of king Jan III Sobieski, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski saddle, Morycz, Sender, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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Annunciation, Master Jerzy, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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Nautilus by Michael MaderThe National Museum in Krakow

After the outbreak of the November Uprising

the property in Puławy was confiscated, and the Czartoryski family, engaged in patriotic activities, were forced to protect the collections. Thanks to the actions of the duchess, court servants and the local population, a significant  part of the collection was hidden.

Portrait of Izabela Czartoryska by Kazimierz WojnakowskiThe National Museum in Krakow

In the 1840s, the works were transported to Paris to the Hôtel Lambert. They were made available to the public to draw Europe's eyes to the fate of Poland, which was affected by the partitions.

The banner of the Tsar Szujski family, unknow, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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In the second half of the 19th century, the collections were transferred to Krakow and exhibited in the museum established by Prince Władysław Czartoryski, grandson of the founder of the museum in Puławy. The Museum's dramatic history was not bypassed during the Second World War.

Boy in Polish costume, Caspar Netscher, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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Lady with an Ermine (circa. 1489) by Leonardo da VinciThe National Museum in Krakow

The monuments presented today at the Museum

are an integral part of the heritage of Poland and Europe. The most valuable collections of the Princes Czartoryski Museum include Leonardo da Vinci's ‘Lady with an Ermine’ and Rembrandt van Rijn's ‘Landscape with the Good Samaritan’.

Lady with an Ermine, Leonardo da Vinci, circa. 1489, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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Landscape with the Good Samaritan, Rembrandt van Rijn, From the collection of: The National Museum in Krakow
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Courtyard of the Princes Czartoryski MuseumThe National Museum in Krakow

See the Princes Czartoryski Palace

 In addition to works of art, the Princes Czartoryski Palace attracts visitors with the beauty of a place that has retained the special character of a historical gallery.

Credits: Story

Compiled by Agata Jabłońska, based on the materials of the National Museum in Krakow

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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