Masterpieces from the Lanckoroński Collection. A Story of Antiquity

Antiquity is closer than you think. Not as a bygone era, but as a source of inspiration whose traces can still be found in art and culture. Wawel Royal Castle invites visitors to discover unique artefacts from various parts of Europe and the United States - a unique opportunity to see one of the most important private collections of antiquities and to look at Antiquity from a new perspective.

Wawel Royal Castle on the exhibition:

As a starting point, the exhibition takes the objects currently held in the collections of the Wawel Royal Castle - a gift from Karolina Lanckoronska and the Lanckoronski Foundation donated in 2000. This small but extremely valuable collection forms part of the count’s former collection, which, by the end of the 19th century, was one of the largest private collections of antiquities in Europe.

The exhibition features, amongst other things, vessels used during feasts: kantharos - a cup associated with the cult of Dionysus; kylix - a flat wine cup; and amphora - a vessel used for storing and transporting liquids. They are complemented by artefacts associated with the cult of Dionysus, including a carved protome of this god.

The exhibits also include a portrait head of a man from the Julio-Claudian dynasty, from the Getty Museum’s collection, as well as exceptional examples of decorative arts: a bronze mirror decorated with images of the Dioscuri and the so-called Lanckoronski gem from the 6th century AD, depicting a cross venerated by Saints Peter and Paul, above which stands a bust of Christ.

Karol Lanckoronski - collector and scholar

Karol Lanckoronski was not only a collector, but also an expert and scholar studying Mediterranean cultures. He took part in Austrian archaeological expeditions and organised his own research expeditions in Asia Minor. The collection of ancient art was one of the most important parts of the Lanckoronski family’s holdings, housed since 1895 in the neo-Baroque palace at Jacquingasse 18 in Vienna, and it was regarded as one of the largest private collections of antiques in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The modern exhibition design by Bartosz Haduch is inspired by the principles of ancient composition and classical geometry. The display is accompanied by an extensive catalogue, the first comprehensive study of Karol Lanckoronski’s collection of ancient works.

Tickets, opening hours, and current details are on the Wawel Royal Castle website.

Museum profile: Wawel Royal Castle.