Bulletin du Musée National de Varsovie (40.1999)

13. Main Hall of the
National Museum in
Warsaw during an
opening of the
exhibition
The World of Franklin
and Jefferson,
May 17,1975

Poster Museum, the first of its kind in Europę, was established in Wilanów.
In 1972 the Faras Gallery was opened in the National Museum, a permanent
exhibition of wali paintings from the excavations conducted by Prof. Kazimierz
Michałowski in Nubia.

In Lorentz’s plans the National Museum, and the Ujazdowski Castle were
supposed to be linked to the Royal Castle, for whose reconstruction 30
thousand zlotys was designated in 1974 from the Committee for the
Reconstruction of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Professor Lorentz also intended
to locate a branch of the National Museum in the rebuilt Ujazdowski Castle,
creating an image of Polish life in former times by displaying pieces from the
National MuseunTs rich collections of decorative art. The Ujazdowski Pałace
was to be one of the key landmarks of this museum route running from the
Royal Castle through the National Museum, the Ujazdowski Castle, the
Łazienki Pałace and Gardens, to Wilanów. The Ministry of Culture and Art,
however, designated the Ujazdowski Castle for the display of contemporary art.
Lorentz never reconciled himself with the Ministry’s decision and repeatedly
insisted that a morę appropriate structure should be used for that purpose than
the Baroąue building of the Ujazdowski Castle.

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