Permanent Exhibition „Sacrum i profanum”

The museum collection comprises impressive holdings of liturgical textiles, goldsmith’s work, sculpture, painting, drawing and prints. Of particular note are the woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer from 1498–1511 („Apokalipsa”, „Żywot Marii” and „Pasja”.), bound together in one book. The highlight of the older painting collection is “Adoration of the Shepherds” (1575) by the Italian painter Francesco Bassano. Polish painting is represented by, among others, Matejko, Rustem, Simmler, Wyspiański, Pankiewicz, Malczewski and Vlastimil Hoffmann. A distinct place in the collection is held by modern Polish painting, especially independent art of the 1980s, including works by émigré artists (Józef Czapski, Jan Lebenstein, Adam Kossowski). In Gothic sculpture, outstanding examples include the exquisite Beautiful Madonna with Child from the workshop of Hans Multscher (third quarter of the 15th century) and a figure of Christ with movable arms, made in the early 15th century for Easter Passion rites – one of the few objects of this type in Poland. Early 20th-century sculpture is represented by Antoni Madeyski and Henryk Kuna, and postwar sculpture by Alfons Karny. Among the liturgical vestments, chasubles made from kontusz sashes and Baroque chasubles with richly embroidered figural motifs stand out. Not to be overlooked is an Italian-made chasuble founded by Queen Cecilia Renata, wife of Władysław IV (1644). In the goldsmith’s collection, notable pieces include late medieval tower monstrances from the early 16th century, 18th-century radiant monstrances with figural decoration and a rich iconographic programme, and above all a striking set of liturgical vessels (chalice, ampullae and paten) enamelled with scenes from the Passion, the work of Augsburg goldsmith Michael Maier (c. 1700). The museum also boasts a rich collection of clocks, comprising floor clocks from London as well as Dutch and Gdańsk workshops, and an interesting group of mantel and tile stove clocks.

STEFAN CARDINAL WYSZYŃSKI – an exhibition of memorabilia associated with the Primate of the Millennium forms part of the permanent exhibition. More

The permanent exhibition includes 27 paintings by Zdzisław Beksiński from the Anna and Piotr Dmochowski Collection. More