Gerhart Hauptmann (1912) by Anton Rudolf WeinbergerCity Museum of Wrocław
Artists already functioned among primitive people. In addition to the daily struggle for survival, our ancestors found time for "creative activity", as evidenced by, for example, wall paintings found in caves.
The hands of the prehistoric painter immortalized his companions during hunting for mammoths and bison, commemorating for centuries their successes in obtaining food.
Centuries passed, and people (especially the greats of this world) were still eagerly looking at their artistic images.
At the request of the wealthy, paintings, sculptures and medals were created. We will take a closer look at the latter.
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Museum of Medallic Art
The subject of our interest will be medalist portraits of characters once associated with Wrocław. It is in this city that, since 1965, the only museum institution in Poland dealing with collecting medals, orders and decorations from around the world - the Museum of Medallic Art.
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The historic palace
As one of the seven branches of the Wrocław City Museum, it is located in a historic palace, which was the former residence of the kings of Prussia - Frederick II the Great and his successors.
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"1.000 years of Wrocław"
You can see all of the presented items at the permanent exhibition "1.000 years of Wrocław", devoted to over 1000 years of history of the metropolis on the Odra River.
Silver portrait of Georg Bender (1912) by Richard SchipkeCity Museum of Wrocław
On what occasions were the figures associated with the capital of Silesia commemorated with medal-winning images? Let's take a closer look at this issue.
The obvious answer seems to be that the outstanding inhabitants of Wrocław were honored in this way to commemorate their services to the city.
In this category, we can distinguish the following figures: the wealthy burgher Heinrich von Rybisch, bishops Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg and Georg Kopp, and mayor Georg Bender. While the first three were honored during their activity, Mayor Bender received medals dedicated to himself at the time of his well-deserved retirement.
The creators of culture and people of science were also appreciated.
The writer Gerhart Hauptmann (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature) received a whole range of medals devoted to his character, and such honor was also given to a native of Wrocław, philosopher Christian von Wolff.
It was hard to miss the world's greatest, the crowned heads.
Walking through the exhibition, you can “meet” Emperor Leopold I Habsburg - the founder of the Leopoldine Academy, which over time transformed into the University of Wrocław. In the part of the exhibition devoted to the Silesian wars of 1740-63, the dominant figure is, of course, the King of Prussia, Frederick II the Great.
Frederick II the Great Room (2009) by City Museum of WrocławCity Museum of Wrocław
Frederick II the Great
The “Old Fritz” has its royal chamber in the Royal Palace, in the form of a Rococo living room.
Who among us doesn't like our birthday?
Exactly. The councilor Heinrich Schmidt, the industrialist Egmont Websky, the banker Heinrich Philipp von Eichborn and the art historian Erwin Hintze were of the same opinion, who on this special day were appreciated by their friends and associates with a special gift - a medal with the image of the jubilarian.
Other jubilees and successes of the inhabitants of Wrocław were also celebrated.
Johann Adrian von Plecken was awarded a medal for the 50th anniversary of his service in the state administration. Caspar Neumann at the time of his promotion to the position of inspector of evangelical schools and churches in Wrocław. Finally, Bishop Heinrich Förster 50 years after his ordination to the priesthood.
Bronze portrait of Georg Bender (1912) by Richard SchipkeCity Museum of Wrocław
Heroes of the medals
As we can see, the heroes of the medals that can be admired every day in the exhibition halls of the Royal Palace are figures of various professions, who also lived in other historical periods
However, they are connected with Wrocław and the fact that they were immortalized for their achievements in the form of metal works of art, which you can admire when visiting our institution.
Mateusz Magda
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