The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in the Cloth Hall

The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in the Cloth Hall is an integral part of Krakow's Main Market Square, housing true treasures of Polish culture. Located on the first floor of this historic building, it features the largest permanent exhibition of 19th-century Polish paintings and sculptures in Poland. The gallery owes its existence to the generosity of artist Henryk Siemiradzki, who donated his famous painting "Nero's Torches" to the museum. Since its establishment in 1884, the gallery has grown to become a home for valuable works of Polish art.

With four distinct halls, tourists have the opportunity to embark on a journey through different periods of art history: Enlightenment, Romanticism, the formation of the Academy, and Realism. Each hall carries a unique atmosphere and history, presenting works by prominent artists.

The Enlightenment Hall showcases classical and pre-Romantic trends in Polish art, featuring works by masters such as Marcello Bacciarelli and Józef Grassi. Visitors can also see works by Polish artists such as Aleksander Orłowski and Franciszek Smuglewicz.

The Piotr Michałowski Hall, dedicated to the most eminent Polish Romantic painter, features a series of paintings depicting the Charge of Somosierra, portraits of Jews, peasants, and children. The hall also houses portraits portraying historical events and the fate of Poles exiled to Siberia by artists Artur Grottger and Jacek Malczewski.

The Around the Academy Hall presents historical paintings, including iconic works such as Henryk Siemiradzki's "Nero's Torches," "Kościuszko at Racławice," "Ivan the Terrible," and "Wernyhora" by Jan Matejko.

The Chełmoński Hall is a place to admire landscape paintings by Jan Nepomucen Głowacki and Stanisław Masłowski, as well as realistic compositions by Aleksander Gierymski, symbolic canvases by Józef Chełmoński and Adam Chmielowski, and Impressionist compositions by Leon Wyczółkowski.

In addition to paintings, the gallery also showcases intriguing sculptures by Jakub Tatarkiewicz, Pius Weloński, Antoni Kurzawa, and Antoni Madeyski.

The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in the Cloth Hall is a place where history meets art, offering tourists the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich world of 19th-century Polish culture. We warmly invite you to visit this extraordinary place in the heart of Krakow.