Description of the attraction
Jan Matejka's House is a museum in Krakow dedicated to the famous artist Jan Matejko (1838-1893), who was born and lived all his life in this house. The house was built in the 16th century, after which it was rebuilt several times in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. In 1872 Jan Matejko hired the architect Tomasz Prylinski to create a new façade of the building.
Two years after the artist's death, the house, along with part of the collection, was acquired by the Jan Matejka community. In May 1896, the artist's living room and bedroom were opened to the public. In the same period, the employees began to collect the library, which included publications and photographs by Jan Matejka. In the years 1896-1898, interior work was carried out in the building, which were aimed at adapting the building to the needs of the house-museum. The reconstruction was carried out under the leadership of Tadeusz Struenski and Sigmund Handel.
In 1904, the building became a branch of the National Museum of Krakow. After the end of World War II, the museum reopened its doors in 1953 after a major renovation.
Currently, the first floor houses the Matejka living room; on the second floor, the room in which the artist was born on June 24, 1838 is open to visitors. There is a memorial plaque in the room. Matejka's working studio is located on the third floor.
