Antiquity is closer than you think. Not as a bygone era, but as a source of inspiration whose traces can still be found in art and culture. From May onwards, Wawel Royal Castle invites visitors to discover unique artefacts from various parts of Europe and the United States. This is a unique opportunity to see one of the most important private collections of antiquities and to look at the Antiquity from a new perspective.

The Lanckoroński collection once again reveals its richness, demonstrating that the legacy of Antiquity extends beyond the confines of museums – it continues to shape and inspire successive generations.

As a starting point, the exhibition takes the objects currently held in the collections of the Wawel Royal Castle – a gift from Karolina Lanckoroński and the Lanckoroński Foundation donated in 2000. This small but extremely valuable collection forms part of the count’s former collection, which, by the end of the 19th century, was one of the largest private collections of antiquities in Europe.

The exhibition will feature, amongst other things, vessels used during feasts: kantharos – a cup associated with the cult of Dionysus; kylix – a flat wine cup; and amphora – a vessel used for storing and transporting liquids. They are complemented by artefacts associated with the cult of Dionysus, including a carved protome of this god.

The exhibits also include a portrait head of a man from the Julio-Claudian dynasty, from the Getty Museum’s collection, as well as exceptional examples of decorative arts: a bronze mirror decorated with images of the Dioscuri and the so-called Lanckoroński gem from the 6th century AD, depicting a cross venerated by Saints Peter and Paul, above which stands a bust of Christ.

This modern exhibition design by Bartosz Haduch is inspired by the principles of ancient composition and classical geometry. Contemporary architectural forms and the use of natural materials create a space where the history of the collection meets the modern exhibition style.
Exhibition curatorial team: Dr Joanna Winiewicz-Wolska, Bartłomiej Makowiecki.

The exhibition is available at the Wawel Royal Castle in Cracow from 8 May to 30 August, 2026.

Read more: https://wawel.krakow.pl/en/exhibition-temporary/masterpieces-from-the-lanckoronski-collection-at-the-wawel-royal-castle-a-third-look-a-story-of-antiquity