Czapski Palace
Encyclopedia
The Czapski Palace is a substantial palace in the center of Warsaw
, at 5 Krakowskie Przedmieście
. It is considered one of the most distinguished examples of rococo
architecture in Poland's capital.
The building, just across the street from the University of Warsaw
, has been home to some famous people, including artist Zygmunt Vogel
, composer Frederic Chopin
, and poets Zygmunt Krasiński
and Cyprian Norwid
.
The palace now houses the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.
, Sieniawski or Raczyński Palace. The building has also been owned by the Radziwiłłs, Radziejowskis, Zamoyskis and Czartoryskis.
Now the home of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, the Czapski Palace dates from the late 17th century. It was constructed in about 1686 to Tylman van Gameren
's design for Michał Stefan Radziejowski, Archbishop of Gniezno and Cardinal Primate. Between 1712 and 1721 it was reconstructed by Agostino Locci and Kacper Bażanka (alcoves and breaks were added) for the next owner, Great Crown Hetman Adam Mikołaj Sieniawski. Its present rococo
character dates from 1752–65, when the palace belonged to the Czapski family. At that time, the Krakowskie Przedmieście
entrance was decorated with eagles and allegorical figures of the Four Seasons.
The Czapski Palace changed owners at least ten times. It was the residence of Stanisław Małachowski, Marshal of the Sejm
, who in 1791 co-authored the world's second, and Europe's first, codified written national constitution—the Constitution of May 3, 1791
. Małachowski and his wife Konstancja, née Czapska, in the mid-eighteenth century remodeled the palace into a French-style city palace. Added around the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were two classicist annexes designed by Jan Chrystian Kamsetzer
. Another famous resident of the palace (1808–26) was Zygmunt Vogel
, an artist who specialized in watercolor and drawing and was a professor in the University of Warsaw
Department of Fine Arts.
In the first half of the nineteenth century, the palace was acquired by Wincenty Krasiński. Zygmunt Krasiński
, the Polish romantic poet, was born here in 1812. In 1827–30 Fryderyk Chopin lived here with his family in the building's south annex, on Krakowskie Przedmieście
; the Palace was the last home of Chopin before he went into exile. In 1837–39 it would be home to poet Cyprian Norwid
, author of Chopin's Piano about Russians' 1863 defenestration of the instrument. In 1851–1852 the palace was rebuilt by Enrico Marconi
. During the period from 1909 to the outbreak of World War Two the building belonged to Edward Raczyński
, President of the Republic of Poland in Exile during the years 1979-1986.
The palace burned in 1939 after being shelled by German artillery, and priceless paintings and books are thought to have been destroyed. It was reconstructed in 1948-59 to a design by Stanisław Brukalski. After restoration, the palace was incorporated into the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.
's equestrian statue of the Venetian
condottiere
Bartolomeo Colleoni
.
In the south annex to the Palace, facing directly onto Krakowskie Przedmieście
, a large third-floor room, the Chopin Family Parlor (Salonik Chopinów), features period furniture and memorabilia of the composer. The parlor's interior and decor, from the first half of the nineteenth century, have been reconstructed from sketches made in 1832 by Antoni Kolberg. The parlor is open to the public.
The Academy of Fine Arts museum that opened in 1985 holds 30,000 works from all fields of visual art: painting, sculpture, graphics, drawing, posters, architecture, artistic crafts, industrial design. The museum is located in the Palace's attic. The collections are held in 200 square meters of storage rooms, while the exhibition rooms host meetings, lectures and temporary displays.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, at 5 Krakowskie Przedmieście
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of the most impressive and prestigious streets of Poland's capital.Several other Polish cities also have streets named Krakowskie Przedmieście. In Lublin, it is the main and most elegant street...
. It is considered one of the most distinguished examples of rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
architecture in Poland's capital.
The building, just across the street from the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
, has been home to some famous people, including artist Zygmunt Vogel
Zygmunt Vogel
Zygmunt Vogel was a Polish artist who specialized in watercolor and drawing.-Life:Vogel was born in 1764 in Wołczyn ....
, composer Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
, and poets Zygmunt Krasiński
Zygmunt Krasinski
Count Napoleon Stanisław Adam Ludwig Zygmunt Krasiński , a Polish count, is traditionally ranked with Mickiewicz and Słowacki as one of Poland's Three National Bards — the trio of great Romantic poets who influenced national consciousness during the period of Poland's political bondage.-Life and...
and Cyprian Norwid
Cyprian Norwid
Cyprian Kamil Norwid, a.k.a. Cyprian Konstanty Norwid is a nationally esteemed Polish poet, dramatist, painter, and sculptor. He was born in the Masovian village of Laskowo-Głuchy near Warsaw. One of his maternal ancestors was Polish King John III Sobieski.Norwid is regarded as one of the second...
.
The palace now houses the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.
History
"Czapski Palace" is the name oftenest applied to the edifice, but in reference to subsequent residents it is also sometimes called the KrasińskiKrasinski
Krasiński is a surname of Polish, or generally Slavic, origin....
, Sieniawski or Raczyński Palace. The building has also been owned by the Radziwiłłs, Radziejowskis, Zamoyskis and Czartoryskis.
Now the home of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, the Czapski Palace dates from the late 17th century. It was constructed in about 1686 to Tylman van Gameren
Tylman van Gameren
Tylman van Gameren was a Dutch-born Polish architect and engineer who, at the age of 28, settled in Poland and worked for Queen Maria Kazimiera, wife of Poland's King Jan III Sobieski...
's design for Michał Stefan Radziejowski, Archbishop of Gniezno and Cardinal Primate. Between 1712 and 1721 it was reconstructed by Agostino Locci and Kacper Bażanka (alcoves and breaks were added) for the next owner, Great Crown Hetman Adam Mikołaj Sieniawski. Its present rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
character dates from 1752–65, when the palace belonged to the Czapski family. At that time, the Krakowskie Przedmieście
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of the most impressive and prestigious streets of Poland's capital.Several other Polish cities also have streets named Krakowskie Przedmieście. In Lublin, it is the main and most elegant street...
entrance was decorated with eagles and allegorical figures of the Four Seasons.
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
, who in 1791 co-authored the world's second, and Europe's first, codified written national constitution—the Constitution of May 3, 1791
Constitution of May 3, 1791
The Constitution of May 3, 1791 was adopted as a "Government Act" on that date by the Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Historian Norman Davies calls it "the first constitution of its type in Europe"; other scholars also refer to it as the world's second oldest constitution...
. Małachowski and his wife Konstancja, née Czapska, in the mid-eighteenth century remodeled the palace into a French-style city palace. Added around the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were two classicist annexes designed by Jan Chrystian Kamsetzer
Johann Christian Kammsetzer
Johann Christian Kammsetzer or Jan Chrystian Kamsetzer was a Dresden-born architect who was active primarily in Poland.-Life:...
. Another famous resident of the palace (1808–26) was Zygmunt Vogel
Zygmunt Vogel
Zygmunt Vogel was a Polish artist who specialized in watercolor and drawing.-Life:Vogel was born in 1764 in Wołczyn ....
, an artist who specialized in watercolor and drawing and was a professor in the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
Department of Fine Arts.
In the first half of the nineteenth century, the palace was acquired by Wincenty Krasiński. Zygmunt Krasiński
Zygmunt Krasinski
Count Napoleon Stanisław Adam Ludwig Zygmunt Krasiński , a Polish count, is traditionally ranked with Mickiewicz and Słowacki as one of Poland's Three National Bards — the trio of great Romantic poets who influenced national consciousness during the period of Poland's political bondage.-Life and...
, the Polish romantic poet, was born here in 1812. In 1827–30 Fryderyk Chopin lived here with his family in the building's south annex, on Krakowskie Przedmieście
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of the most impressive and prestigious streets of Poland's capital.Several other Polish cities also have streets named Krakowskie Przedmieście. In Lublin, it is the main and most elegant street...
; the Palace was the last home of Chopin before he went into exile. In 1837–39 it would be home to poet Cyprian Norwid
Cyprian Norwid
Cyprian Kamil Norwid, a.k.a. Cyprian Konstanty Norwid is a nationally esteemed Polish poet, dramatist, painter, and sculptor. He was born in the Masovian village of Laskowo-Głuchy near Warsaw. One of his maternal ancestors was Polish King John III Sobieski.Norwid is regarded as one of the second...
, author of Chopin's Piano about Russians' 1863 defenestration of the instrument. In 1851–1852 the palace was rebuilt by Enrico Marconi
Enrico Marconi
Enrico Marconi, known in Poland as Henryk Marconi , was an Italian architect who spent most of his life in Congress Poland....
. During the period from 1909 to the outbreak of World War Two the building belonged to Edward Raczyński
Edward Raczynski
Edward Raczyński was the name of three members of a Polish aristocratic family:* Edward Raczyński Polish conservative politician, protector of arts, founder of the Raczynski Library in Poznań...
, President of the Republic of Poland in Exile during the years 1979-1986.
The palace burned in 1939 after being shelled by German artillery, and priceless paintings and books are thought to have been destroyed. It was reconstructed in 1948-59 to a design by Stanisław Brukalski. After restoration, the palace was incorporated into the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.
Today
In the courtyard before the Palace stands a copy of Andrea del VerrocchioAndrea del Verrocchio
Andrea del Verrocchio , born Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni, was an Italian sculptor, goldsmith and painter who worked at the court of Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence in the early renaissance. Few paintings are attributed to him with certainty, but a number of important painters were...
's equestrian statue of the Venetian
Venetian
Venetian may refer to:*Venetian language, a language spoken in Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Mexico, Istria and Brazil.* Venetian cuisine* Venetian wine*Historical inhabitants of the Republic of Venice...
condottiere
Condottieri
thumb|Depiction of [[Farinata degli Uberti]] by [[Andrea del Castagno]], showing a 15th century condottiero's typical attire.Condottieri were the mercenary soldier leaders of the professional, military free companies contracted by the Italian city-states and the Papacy, from the late Middle Ages...
Bartolomeo Colleoni
Bartolomeo Colleoni
Bartolomeo Colleoni was a Venetian condottiero, who became Captain-General of the republic of Venice, where there is a famous statue showing him on horseback.-Biography:...
.
In the south annex to the Palace, facing directly onto Krakowskie Przedmieście
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of the most impressive and prestigious streets of Poland's capital.Several other Polish cities also have streets named Krakowskie Przedmieście. In Lublin, it is the main and most elegant street...
, a large third-floor room, the Chopin Family Parlor (Salonik Chopinów), features period furniture and memorabilia of the composer. The parlor's interior and decor, from the first half of the nineteenth century, have been reconstructed from sketches made in 1832 by Antoni Kolberg. The parlor is open to the public.
The Academy of Fine Arts museum that opened in 1985 holds 30,000 works from all fields of visual art: painting, sculpture, graphics, drawing, posters, architecture, artistic crafts, industrial design. The museum is located in the Palace's attic. The collections are held in 200 square meters of storage rooms, while the exhibition rooms host meetings, lectures and temporary displays.
See also
- Branicki Palace
- Brühl Palace, WarsawBrühl Palace, WarsawThe Brühl Palace , otherwise known as Sandomierski Palace standing at Piłsudski Square. It was a large palace and one of the most beautiful rococo buildings in pre-World War II Warsaw.-History:...
- Krasiński Palace