How could you possibly ignore such a claim? I ventured into several museums on my recent visit to Kraków, but none more beautiful. Pałac Pełen Piękna makes no false claim. More properly known as the Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace, it was built originally between 1501-1503, for the Bishop of Płock. Erazm Ciołek, secretary to King Alexander Jagellion, was a diplomat, humanist and a patron of the arts.
The architecture of the building features traditional Gothic elements and influences from the Italian Renaissance. It was added to down the centuries, including the frescoes which took my breath away. Austrian occupation turned it rather incongruously into a police station and prison in 1805. Rescue was forthcoming and in 1996 it became the property of the National Museum of Kraków, and was restored to its former glory. Today it houses art of Old Poland, 12th-18th Centuries- medieval, Renaissance and Baroque.
It was the beautiful frescoes and the incredible painted wooden ceilings that captured my imagination, as much, if not more than, the collected art works. I gazed upwards in awe. I apologise for the poor quality of my photographs, but I mean only to give you a sense of what I felt.
The building is as beautiful as its contents in my eyes. I’m no appreciator of medieval art. I’m just thankful that it has been preserved so that I can share with you a tiny fraction of its splendours. The museum is to be found at Ul. Kanonicza 17.
Paula is featuring Traces of the Past again in this week’s Thursday’s Special. Don’t miss it!
restlessjo 
Very interesting place! 🙂
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And beautiful too 🙂
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Yet another place to add to the Travel-To list? Thank you.
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Absolutely 🙂 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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I absolutely love wandering around such places as this, Jo. That one particular picture frame of the holy family is so ornate. Lovely post. 🙂
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Hi, Ad 🙂 As always with these things, there are a few stories to be told! But the short version is that I totally loved the place. 🙂 Thanks, hon.
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Missed that when I was in Krakow. I like the lounging knights!
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Good, aren’t they? 🙂 There are so many museums in Krakow! I’m gradually getting around them but the one I really wanted to see has been under restoration forever! 🙂 Well, almost.
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Have you been to the Schindler museum?
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Yes 🙂 That post’s coming up next week.
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I look forward to it. I went in 2010 and the completion was behind schedule and the opening delayed so only saw a temporary exhibition.
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Like the Czartoryskich for me 🙂
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Wow, never been there, though I live so close in Kraków!
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Really? 🙂 I’ve walked down Kanonicza and looked a few times but it never looks very inviting and I’ve been a little shy to go in. I thought it was perhaps a student place. So glad I did. 🙂
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We would need to check it out. I often walk through Kanonicza, there is a very nice restaurant which I like.
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I think I know the one you mean. I took photos of the flower display there the same day 🙂
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thanks for sharing these priceless works of art, Jo. so amazing 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed them, LolaWi 🙂 It’s such a beautiful building.
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1501-1503 !! – boggles my mind to imagine all the life this building has seen.
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Yes, that is a long time! A really lovely building, Susan, and well worth the time and money spent on restoring it. 🙂
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All this is really astounding: thanks for the magnificent share!
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I was so glad I went inside, Anna. It was a lovely sunny day and I was tempted not to 🙂
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Precious art. I’m with you – not my favorite style – but amazing that it has been preserved and can be enjoyed by all, in the museum, or through your blog!
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The building itself spoke to me more than the art works, Liesbet. It had such presence and style. A really beautiful restoration job. 🙂 Thanks!
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Thanks for mentioning the website, truly remarkable and well worth the time spent on it. So glad you managed to see the interior. Web views never quite make up for that feeling of awe when looking at the actual work of art. You posted a nice selection of images too.
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Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 I need to go back and spend some more time there myself. I need some details on some of the other museums too. It’s a very remarkable building and I loved being in there.
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Beautiful images, Jo. Thanks for sharing!
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Always a pleasure, Jill 🙂 Thanks, darlin’.
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P.S. Do you have a favourite photo here?
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🙂
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Well, it looks to me that you are – an appreciator of medieval art 🙂 I am happy to report that the word for bishop is the same in Polish and Croatian 🙂 Thank you for sharing bits of Polish past with us.
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The building itself was the star for me, Paula, and those ceilings! I have often passed by and been a little shy to go in. It looks like a private place but the inside is wonderful. I know you don’t have time but the website does give lots of details. Favourite? Maybe the ‘suspended’ knights or that last medieval tryptych is reasonably clear. They’re not great quality and I’m happy to go with your judgement. 🙂
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They are fine, Jo, not too noisy, and it is a thorough and beautiful presentation. I can easily see why the place impressed you so much.
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Wunderschöne Fotos lieber Gruß und einen schönen Tag Gislinde
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Vielen danke, Gislinde 🙂 🙂
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Exquisite ceilings! They make me realise how dull are the ceilings of my modern house……sigh.
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Let’s get the paintbrush out, sweetheart! How are you? 🙂
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Wouldn’t that be fun! I have a few more smiles. My daughter is out of hospital. Moving into a flat today. 🙂
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That’s great news 🙂
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Very interesting read 🙂
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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I loved these frescoes too!
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I knew you would 🙂 🙂
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I love the garlanding, and the ceilings: even the ornateness of that last frame, which is a work of art in itself. I’m not usually a fan of ornate. I detect your quirky eye in a few of these photos. I love the name of the museum: how did you find it? I need ideas for planning limited time in Gdańsk. Hope sun, both real and metaphorical, is shining.
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No sun. 😦 I looked at Gdansk flights and they are super prices but Doncaster-Sheffield airport is too far for me to ask Mick to ‘drop me off’. 😦 😦 The ceilings were spectacular, Meg. I have often wandered down Kanonicza and glanced that way but been a little unsure what was beyond. Just inside the door is a beautiful cloistered courtyard. Have a look at the link. It will take you around all the museums in Krakow. Hugs, darlin. 🙂
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I am disappointed – but delighted that you got as far as checking flights. It was a lovely thought. I’ll head to the link and save it for my sometime-visit to Kraków. I’ve just registered what you meant by your strange comment about playing hunt-the-post and I’ve binned the post on snippetsandsnaps: it’s still on current blog.
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So beautiful and exquisite. A most aptly named museum and thank you so much for sharing. I really enjoyed looking at the art works, frescos and paintings. I don’t think you have to be an expert on an era to appreciate the beauty and serenity of these pieces. Wish I could visit! 😀
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The building was an absolute star, Annika! I’ve walked past it a number of times, but in Krakow it’s but one of many. So glad I ventured inside. The link at the top takes you to the website if you’re interested. 🙂
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Thank you for the prompt, Jo. I’ve just spent a lovely time looking around their website – so well designed, even navigable slide-shows – wow! Just amazing. This is a gem of a museum.
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I think so, too 🙂
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So elaborate and exquisite Jo. Thanks for sharing.
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The website will convey the detail much better than I could hope to, Miriam, but it was truly beautiful. 🙂
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