Among Polish painters, there is perhaps none more universally known than Jan Matejko. His works have accompanied generation after generation of Poles, at the very least from the beginnings of their education in the field of history, though mainly through reproductions in history books at that time. It is no exaggeration to say that the paintings of Matejko have shaped the imagination of the Polish nation on the greatest events of its own history. The painting “The Battle of Grunwald” by this artist is the Polish painting most forcefully etched into the shared consciousness.

The exhibition “Matejko. The painter and history” presents an intimate look at fascinating aspects of the work of this Cracovian artist, displaying both the aforementioned paintings of grand historical cycles, as well as dozens of other smaller format works which feature contents no less grand for their smaller size (including works from private and foreign collections), and also sketches and props used during Matejko’s creative process. In total, there are more than 300 works which illustrate the richness of the artist’s accomplishments. The exhibition will also bring light to Matejko’s social activism, presenting numerous certificates of gratitude and recognition addressed to him.

Exhibition curator: Prof. UAM dr. hab. Michael Haake
Exhibition arrangement: Magdalena Paleczna
Coordinator: Olga Pawlak

Exhibition available from 23.06.2023 to 07.01.2024

Read more: https://mnk.pl/exhibitions/matejko-the-painter-and-history