Palace of the Commonwealth, Warsaw

The construction of the Krasiński Palace, intended for Jan Dobrogost Krasiński, began in 1677 and was completed in 1683. The design was created by Tylman van Gameren.

The Krasiński Palace is designed in the Baroque architectural style. It features Baroque decorations including pediment reliefs depicting the triumph of a legendary Roman commander and sculptural work by Andreas Schlüter.

The palace was built between 1677 and 1683 for Jan Dobrogost Krasiński, the Voivode of Płock. He commissioned the design from Tylman van Gameren to create a magnificent residence reflecting his political ambitions and family pride.

The design of the Krasiński Palace was executed by Tylman van Gameren, a Dutch architect educated in Italy. He was brought to Poland by the Lubomirski family and created numerous designs for various patrons.

The interior of the Krasiński Palace featured frescoes by Michelangelo Palloni, court painter to John III Sobieski. His notable works included plafond and frescoes in the vestibule and supraportes.

In 1765, the Krasiński Palace was purchased by the Rzeczpospolita (Commonwealth), the Polish State, and subsequently became the seat of the Treasury Commission.

Following a fire in 1783, the Krasiński Palace underwent remodeling based on designs by Domenico Merlini. The extent of the renovations is not detailed, but it marked a significant structural change.

During the interwar period, the Krasiński Palace served as the location for the Supreme Court of Poland, indicating its significant administrative role in the state.

The Krasiński Palace suffered extensive damage during World War II, though its outer shell largely remained intact. It was later rebuilt in the mid-20th century.

Currently, the palace is part of the Polish National Library's Special Collections, housing manuscripts and old prints. Only a small fraction of the original collection remains at the palace, with much destroyed by the Germans in 1944.

Between 2014 and 2016, the Krasiński Palace underwent a significant revitalization project to preserve and restore its structure and facilities.

On May 21, 2024, the Krasiński Palace opened its doors to the public for the first time in its history. It now houses a permanent exhibition of valuable objects from the National Library.

The Krasiński Palace was designated as a Historic Monument of Poland on September 8, 1994, recognizing its significant cultural and historical value. It is part of the Warsaw – historic city center with the Royal Route and Wilanów.