24 March 2024 marks the 230th anniversary of Tadeusz Kościuszko’s oath in the Krakow main square, which marked the beginning of the Kościuszko Uprising – a patriotic uprising in defence of the nation’s freedom and the sovereignty of the Polish state. On this occasion, from 25 March to 11 August 2024, the National Museum in Krakow (MNK) is inviting visitors to the temporary exhibition “Tadeusz Kościuszko. Good and brave but unfortunate hero”.
Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746-1817) – an alumnus of the Knights’ School, engineer and military architect, hero of the American War of Independence, also fought to defend the 3rd of May Constitution. After the victory of the Russian army and their occupation of Polish territory, he went into exile in Saxony, where, together with other patriots, reformers of the era of the Great Sejm (1788-1792), he prepared an uprising”, recalls the Museum.
The aim of the exhibition is to show not only Tadeusz Kościuszko’s political activity, but above all his artistic soul and romantic character. Many documents have been preserved in the collections of the Czartoryski Library and Museum, thanks to which we can get to know the various faces of Our Hero.
The figure of Tadeusz Kościuszko is inextricably linked to Krakow. It was from here where he set off on his journey across Europe, only to return and start the uprising here. The documents presented at the exhibition relate to the uprising: Uniwersał połaniecki and the establishment of the Supreme National Council. It is also possible to see two maps referring to this stage of Kościuszko’s life.
The future head of the uprising was a keen sketch artist, which he used not only to draw military fortifications, but also to immortalise picturesque landscapes and portraits. For this reason, the exhibition will include two drawings relating to his travels. Also on display will be Kościuszko’s extensive correspondence with eminent politicians of the second half of the 18th century: George Washington, Charles Talleyrand, Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, as well as private correspondence, for example with his long-time friend and faithful confidante Konstancja Zamoyska, née Czartoryska”, informs the MNK.
Adrian Andrzejewski