From 23 July, Cracovians will see a sculpture of the patron of the tenement house on the facade of the Krzysztofory Palace. St. Krzysztof returned here after 230 years. “After many years, St. Krzysztof will again take care of this part of the city” – says Dr. Michał Niezabitowski, director of the Krakow Museum.
Ceremonial unveiling – 23rd of July 2021
Although some Cracovians had the opportunity to see the moment when the figure of the patron saint of the palace appeared on the building, its ceremonial unveiling took place on July 23 at 13.20. St. Krzysztofory on the facade of the Krzysztofory Palace – after 230 years of absence – coincided with the opening of the building after many years of renovation.
“One of the elements of the palace’s return to the public is the return of St. Krzysztof, who was thrown from the facade at the end of the 18th century by the then owner of the palace, Jacek Kluszewski. A few years ago, we unveiled the niche, and after many years, St. Krzysztof will take care of this part of the city again”, explained Dr. Michał Niezabitowski, director of the Krakow Museum, which has its headquarters in the Krzysztofory Palace.
Krzysztofory Palace dates back to the 13th century!
The origins of the tenement house at 35 Rynek Główny, now the seat of the Krakow Museum, date back to the 13th century. Its name was supposed to come from the statue of St. Christopher (St. Krzysztof). According to popular iconography, the sculpture was to depict a saint carrying the Baby Jesus across the river. 230 years ago, in 1791, the last figure of the saint was removed from the facade of the Krzysztofory Palace by the then owner of the palace, Jacek Kluszewski, and the niche was bricked up.
It is not known what happened to the figure after it disappeared from Krzysztofory. One of the theories was that the fragments of the damaged statue of St. Krzysztof, in the collection of the National Museum in Krakow, which would be confirmed by the story that the sculpture was not removed, but thrown, which caused protests from residents and church hierarchs. However, according to the latest research related to the unveiling of a niche on the facade of a tenement house at 35 Main Square eight years ago, it appears that it was probably not it.
A new statue for the patron Saint
The author of the new presentation of the patron of Krzysztofory is prof. Aleksander Śliwa, winner of the competition announced by the Krakow Museum this spring.
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug
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