DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31076#0099
abode—the Gothic House—where she assembled not only
Polish historical relics but also items from abroad. She acquired
three masterpieces for the gallery in the Gothic House: The
Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci, The Portrait ofa
Youth by Raphael, and The Landscape with a Good Samaritan
by Rembrandt.
After the Puiawy Collection was saved from destruction
during the November Uprising (1830-1831), it was split into two
collections in Galicia and Paris. The latter collection was housed
at the Czartoryski’s new residence in the Hotel Lambert. Princess
Isabela’s grandson, Prince Wladyslaw, was himself a collector on
a large scale. By successful acquisitions in a number of cities—
Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Constantinople, and Cairo—the
prince doubled the size and quality of the collections. In this way,
Cracow gained one of the most interesting private museums in
Europe. This fact undoubtedly gave rise to the idea of creating a
true national museum in Cracow.
One of the initiators of the National Museum was Dr. Jozef
Dietl, who was the president of the city from 1866 until 1875.
As professor and rector, he introduced the Polish language to
the University of Cracow. Fascinated by Polish history, he
dreamt of a national museum. The project was strongly backed
by professors at the university and at the Academy of Sciences,
but artists provided the decisive impetus for the project.
In October 1879, a festive jubilee of Jozef Ignacy
Kraszewski, the outstanding and popular historical writer, took
place in Cracow. During a ceremonial banquet on 5 October,
the renowned painter Henryk Siemiradzki presented the city
and the future museum with its first donation: a grandiose
89
Polish historical relics but also items from abroad. She acquired
three masterpieces for the gallery in the Gothic House: The
Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci, The Portrait ofa
Youth by Raphael, and The Landscape with a Good Samaritan
by Rembrandt.
After the Puiawy Collection was saved from destruction
during the November Uprising (1830-1831), it was split into two
collections in Galicia and Paris. The latter collection was housed
at the Czartoryski’s new residence in the Hotel Lambert. Princess
Isabela’s grandson, Prince Wladyslaw, was himself a collector on
a large scale. By successful acquisitions in a number of cities—
Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Constantinople, and Cairo—the
prince doubled the size and quality of the collections. In this way,
Cracow gained one of the most interesting private museums in
Europe. This fact undoubtedly gave rise to the idea of creating a
true national museum in Cracow.
One of the initiators of the National Museum was Dr. Jozef
Dietl, who was the president of the city from 1866 until 1875.
As professor and rector, he introduced the Polish language to
the University of Cracow. Fascinated by Polish history, he
dreamt of a national museum. The project was strongly backed
by professors at the university and at the Academy of Sciences,
but artists provided the decisive impetus for the project.
In October 1879, a festive jubilee of Jozef Ignacy
Kraszewski, the outstanding and popular historical writer, took
place in Cracow. During a ceremonial banquet on 5 October,
the renowned painter Henryk Siemiradzki presented the city
and the future museum with its first donation: a grandiose
89