Jan Matejko (1838-93) is very much the grand old man of Polish painting, and he was a great celebrity of his day. His fame rests chiefly on his dazzling, romantic oil-paintings, which were designed to uplift hearts during the period of Poland's partitions. He was a prolific artist (although he often had to churn them out to pay off the debts of his eccentric wife). Such was his prestige that the Emperor Franz Joseph I paid a visit to this house - the very house where Matejko was born and later died - and met the artist and his wife. The museum presents the house as it was in Matejko's day, and there are plenty of works by the master himself. The stairwell and some of the backrooms are a little morose and could do with a fresh touch, but on the whole this is a delighful museum that's well worth seeking out.
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