On 16 February 1674, punctually at nine o’clock, Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski took possession of the vast grounds of Ujazdów and thus began the history of the Royal Baths. On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of this event, an exhibition will open at the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw at the end of April, introducing the figure of the eminent politician and writer, one of the most colourful representatives of the Polish Baroque.

As the Museum recalls, Lubomirski’s links with the Royal Łazienki are fundamental. It was on the grounds of the Ujazdów estate, on the order of Marshal Lubomirski, that a small bathing pavilion (Łazienka) was built, which gave rise to the most beautiful object of the Royal Baths – the Palace on the Island, and gave rise to the name of the residence.

On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the acquisition of the Ujazdowski Castle estate, the Museum would like to invite the public to an exhibition introducing the figure of this politician and writer, “The Art of Good Thinking. The Legacy of Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski”.  

At the Palace on the Isle, we will learn about the history of Lubomirski’s Łazienki, traces of which are still visible in the architecture of the residence of the last king of Poland. One of the rooms decorated with 17th-century stuccowork will be open to visitors for the first time in the Museum’s history.

The second part of the exhibition at the Podchorążówka will be devoted to Marshal Lubomirski as one of the most colourful representatives of the Polish Baroque, who was involved in literary works: sometimes rubbishy, sometimes philosophical and, towards the end of his life, devotional. 

As the Museum emphasises, showcasing such a rich biography required finding equally exciting exhibits. To this end, the curatorial team (Dr Kamil Frejlich, Dr Piotr Skowroński) gathered objects from six countries with mementos of Marshal Lubomirski. Many of them will be presented in Poland for the first time. 

Adrian Andrzejewski