Crowds at the Long Night of the Palace on the Isle
There was no lack of visitors during the first edition of "The Long Night of the Palace on the Isle", which took place as part of the "Admission Free November". Throughout the event it was possible to watch The Royal Gallery of Paintings, illuminated by atmospheric lighting, and to become familiar with the history of one of the most prized Polish monuments.
The "Long Night of the Palace on the Isle", for which admission was free, took place on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. A long queue was formed by visitors wanting to see the historic interiors once occupied by the last king of Poland - Stanisław August. Guests had a choice to either visit them on their own or join a tour led by the Royal Łazienki Museum guide who during the evening walk recounted the story of the historic building. The Royal Gallery of Paintings was one of the most popular attractions among the visitors.
DETAILS CONCERNING THE “ADMISSION FREE NOVEMBER” CAMPAIGN
It is worth visiting one of the most important historic buildings of the Royal Łazienki Museum which after renovation looks as it was seen by Stanisław August.
It houses the Royal Gallery of Paintings which, similarly to the Royal Sculpture Gallery, is the fulfilment of the ruler’s dreams of a modern public museum accessible to the public. Individual paintings are valuable in themselves but they also form an entire collection, which - carefully and wisely assembled by Stanisław August - is of exceptional value as a whole.
The 137 paintings presented in the Palace on the Isle (in accordance with the royal catalogue from 1795) form the country’s largest collection of paintings assembled by the last king of Poland. From among numerous works visitors may contemplate paintings of the most prominent portrait artists of the king’s era: the portrait of the duchess Santacroce - by Angelika Kauffmann, and another one depicting Charles Hanbury Williams - by Anton Raphael Mengs.
