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The exhibition, arranged in a unique way, in modern showcases, presents a lesser known image of Wyspiański, as an enthusiast of art history, a meticulous student copying details of historic interiors and then a participant of inventory-taking visits to various historic buildings, mainly Krakow's churches. His deep fascination with the Middle Ages (especially with stained-glass windows and polychrome), strengthened during his stay in Paris, engendered his very subjective and individual attitude towards restoration works. Wyspiański's professional knowledge about the subject and his wide experience made him, quite late in his life, submit a motion during a session of the Krakow City Council, regarding the creation of a special artistic and conservatory board for the city. It was established only after the artist's death, but it managed to save many precious monuments from destruction.
Individual information charts mark out the subsequent stages of Wyspiański's experience with restoration, starting with the first important project – the polychrome in St. Mary's Church, where he worked as Jan Matejko's assistant, moving on to documentary works in the Church of the Holy Cross and finally to Wawel, which fascinated him most, with his designs for stained-glass windows and a scale model of the Acropolis.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is the canvas entitled "The Planty with a view of Wawel” – one of his landscapes, painted almost by chance, which has become a showpiece of the city. The collection also presents other examples of his work: a view from Zacisze (of the Municipal Theatre and the Barbican), as well as views from the artist's studio of Kościuszko Mound.
The exhibition is accompanied by a scholarly text by Marta Romanowska, Ph.D., which describes the issues related to restoration works in Krakow at the turn of the century, including examples of unfortunate decisions to demolish part of the city's historic architecture. The growing importance of restoration in Krakow at the turn of the 20th century was connected with broad changes in urban planning, initiated during Józef Dietl's term as mayor, between 1866 and 1874. Wyspiański grew up in a city which was trying to cope with decades of negligence related to town planning. In terms of the protection of historic buildings, the reconstruction of the city's potential involved cleaning and bringing valuable constructions out of the mass of accidental, hasty and basic architecture.
The exhibition in the showcases presents an image of a neglected city, with Austrian barracks scattered on Wawel Hill, and the Cloth Hall overwhelmed by awkward and makeshift annexes. At the same time, the collection emphasizes Wyspiański's priceless contribution, not only to protecting this architectural tissue but also to endowing it with a new meaning. This extraordinary blend of artistic sensitivity with knowledge, and of emotion with rational overview, bore plentiful fruit in the form of an innovative approach to restoration.
The exhibition is open daily, from 9am to 7pm. Admission free!
From: Krakowskie Biuro Festiwalowe
