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Tadeusz Kościuszko - the soldier for freedom
| On 28th of August 2008, in the Blumenstein Museum in Solothurn (Switzerland), an exhibition titled Tadeusz Kościuszko – the soldier for freedom was opened. The exhibition is hosted by the vice-president of the city of Solothurn - Barbara Streit-Kofmel, cultural attaché of the Polish embassy in Berne - Jarosław Bajaczyk, custodian of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków - doctor Grażyna Lichończak-Nurek, chairman of the Kościuszko Society in Solothurn - doctor Thomas Wallner, custodian of the Kościuszko Museum - Benedykt Drewnowski and delegation from the Kościuszko Mound Committee in Kraków. The exhibition was said as a very important event in collaboration of Kraków and Solothurn. Accordion band - Motion Trio, whose masterly performance was applauded by a numerous public, added splendour to the opening of the exhibition. Most of the objects presented on the exhibition come form the collection of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. The most precious are works of Kraków’s artist (from the turn of the 18th century) - Michał Stachowicz. Paintings presenting taking an oath by Kościuszko on the Kraków’s Main Square, march of the Kościuszko’s army through the Kraków’s Main Square after the Battle of Racławice, and the tributary celebrations in August 1796 (homage representing devoting oneself to new authorities) Very interesting work of art is gouache by Walery Eliasz-Radzikowski with a scene of consecration of generals’ Kościuszko and Józef Wodzicki sabres in the Capuchin Fathers’ monastery. Next two paintings present struggles of the insurgents with Russian army, the Battle of Racławice (by Radzikowski) and Kościuszko in Maciejowice (by Teodor Baltazar Stachowicz). A painting presenting beginnings of the Kościuszko mound erection on the St. Bronisława Hill in 1820 was painted by Jan Nepomucen Bizański, and ceremonial march with a soil from Racławice to the mound was presented by Teodor Baltazar Stachowicz, approx. 1858. The importance of the Kościuszko Mound for Poles during the period of annexations was presented by Piotr Stachiewicz by a lesson of people’s school on the Mound. Together with paintings, on the exhibition there are very interesting memorabilia and object referring to Kościuszko. Very precious object is an epaulet from the American general’s uniform of Kościuszko from 1783. Among several portraits of the Leader there is a very interesting one – small copperplate by Jan May from 1794 showing bust of the Leader in oval shape. Additionally on the exhibition there is a gypsum sculpture of Kościuszko made by Antoni Popiel, which was a model for the Kościuszko Monument in Washington. Interesting object is a statuette of mounted Kościuszko from 1959 it was made in Dresden by German artist Rudolf Löhner. On the exhibition you can also find weapons used during the Kościuszko Insurrection, sabres, battle-axes of the infantry, pistols and famous endwise mounted scythes. Some of the precious exhibits come from the collections of the Kościuszko Mound Committee in Kraków. Noteworthy is Proclamation of Połaniec from 1794, printed on the laid paper, one of the most important legal acts of the insurrection published by Kościuszko. In this group of objects there are also 3 cast iron cannon shots from the Battle of Racławice. Two paintings: a scene of freeing the Leader from the Peter and Paul Fortress in Petersburg in 1796 and the second is an advanced in years Kościuszko’s portrait (by Stefan Kozakiewicz, 1867). A great attraction of the Blumenstein Museum in Solothurn is a virtual walk through Kraków – multimedia presentation prepared by the exhibition’s custodian Piotr Hapanowicz, Wiesław Majka and employees of the Blumenstein Museum The exhibition will be opened until 11th of January 2009. |
