Józef Mehoffer House

The interiors are arranged in a way that recreates their former atmosphere, with some of them even being faithfully recreated, and which also makes reference to the artist’s original conception. This was possible thanks to gifts and deposited items from his family, complemented by exhibits from the museum’s own collection. Although it is the artist’s own house, it is at the same time a museum of the interiors found here and – to a certain extent – a museum of art. Old furniture, chandeliers, wall hangings, clocks, books, and other works of art, including numerous works by the artist including stained-glass items, oils, decorative portraits, drawings, and many other items are brought together here. The most precious items include the stained-glass work Vita somnium breve, Caritas, Faith, Hope, and Love, portraits of the artist’s wife: the so-called “Florentine” and “In the summerhouse” portraits, and portraits of other persons, in particular Zofia Minderowa (“Róża Saronu”). They also include landscapes such as the works “Vistula by Niepołomice” and “The Red Parasol”, and designs for projected works: “Nature and Science” (for the Palace of Art in Kraków) and “Flowers” (the motif for a polychrome mural in the Wawel Cathedral Treasury).

Józef Mehoffer (1869-1946), a “disciple” of Jan Matejko and peer of Stanisław Wyspiański, was one of the most exceptional artists of the Young Poland movement and was still active between the two world wars.

Information on temporary exhibitions: