National Museum in Warsaw: Collections and Visitor Info

The National Museum in Warsaw was initially established on May 20, 1862, as the Museum of Fine Arts, Warsaw. This marked the beginning of its long history as a significant cultural institution.

In 1916, the institution was renamed the National Museum, Warsaw. This change in name signified its evolving role and expanded responsibilities in preserving and showcasing national art and culture.

The current building of the National Museum in Warsaw, located on Jerusalem Avenue, was designed by Tadeusz Tolwiński. Its construction took place between 1927 and 1938.

The purpose-built modernist edifice on Jerusalem Avenue was inaugurated on June 18, 1938. This marked the official opening of the museum in its new, permanent location.

Following the invasion of Poland in September 1939, the museum's collection was looted by the Gestapo. This event led to the loss of numerous valuable artifacts.

After World War II, many of the works seized by the Germans were recovered under the supervision of Stanisław Lorentz. However, over 5,000 artifacts remain missing.

Between 1945 and 1958, many works of art of uncertain provenance, originating from Nazi German art repositories, were nationalized by the communist authorities and incorporated into the museum's collection as 'abandoned property'.

In 1947, the National Museum launched the country's first postwar touring exhibition program, making its collection accessible to audiences outside major urban centers.

In 1945, the National Museum took over the historic Nieborów Palace, making it a subsidiary of the museum. This expanded the institution's reach and holdings.

A renovation between 2011 and 2012 transformed the museum into one of Europe's most modern institutions, featuring computer-led LED lighting to enhance exhibits.

The Old European Painting Collection, now comprising over 3,700 works, dates back to the museum's founding in 1862 with the acquisition of Italian, Dutch, and German paintings.

In 1862, the museum acquired 36 Italian, Dutch, and German paintings from the Johann Peter Weyer collection in Cologne, forming a significant part of its early European painting holdings.

The collection was significantly enlarged by the acquisition of Pietro Fiorentini's paintings in 1879, which were originally donated to the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.

The museum expanded its collection by purchasing paintings from Wojciech Kolasiński between 1877 and 1896, further enriching its European art holdings.

In 1906, the museum received a bequest from Cyprian Lachnicki, which included significant works by artists such as Pieter de Kempeneer and Hans Schäufelein, acquired by the museum in 1908.

In 1935, the museum purchased a substantial collection of paintings from Jan Popławski, including works by Tintoretto.

In 1961, the museum acquired the collection of Gabriela Zapolska, which included several paintings by Paul Sérusier, adding to its modern art holdings.

The acquisition of 'Portrait of Tadeusz Makowski' by Marcel Gromaire in 1959 provided an international context for the museum's Polish modern art collection.

In 1979, the museum acquired 'Lassitude' by Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, a notable addition to its collection of European art.

Stanisław Lorentz served as the director of the National Museum in Warsaw from 1935 to 1982. He was instrumental in saving many valuable works of art during World War II and overseeing the post-war recovery.

The museum's current building, designed by Tadeusz Tolwiński and inaugurated in 1938, is a notable example of modernist architecture.

The museum houses the Faras Gallery, which displays Europe's largest collection of Nubian Christian art, recovered by Polish archaeologists from Sudan.

The Gallery of Medieval Art features artifacts from various regions of historical Poland and selected Western European art from the late Middle Ages, focusing on the role of art in religious life.

The Gallery of 19th-century Art showcases Polish painters and sculptors within a European context, notably featuring Jan Matejko's monumental painting 'Battle of Grunwald'.

The museum possesses a substantial collection of ancient art, including Egyptian, Greek, and Roman objects, totaling approximately 11,000 items.

The museum holds an extensive gallery of Polish painting, spanning from the 16th century to the present day, alongside a notable collection of foreign paintings.

The museum's department of oriental art includes the largest collection of Chinese art in Poland, consisting of approximately 5,000 objects.

In 2010, the National Museum hosted 'Ars Homo Erotica,' one of the world's first exhibitions dedicated entirely to homoerotic art, marking a significant cultural statement.

The museum has conducted archaeological missions, including work at Tyritake in Crimea (2008-2013) and Olbia in Ukraine (since 2016), focusing on ancient art and culture.

In 2012, the museum's permanent galleries underwent significant changes, with curators re-arranging and supplementing exhibits, and presenting works thematically rather than strictly chronologically.

The collections of the National Museum in Warsaw comprise over 830,000 exhibits of Polish and foreign art, spanning from antiquity to the present day.

The Collection of Ancient and East Christian Art is the largest and most important of its kind in Poland, numbering around 24,000 exhibits, including unique Nubian frescoes.