Rubens in Silesia. Baroque Genius at an Exhibition in Wrocław
From May 31 to November 30, 2025, the National Museum in Wrocław invites you to the unique exhibition "Rubens in Silesia", which for the first time in history presents the fascination with the art of Peter Paul Rubens in the lands of historical Silesia. The exhibition, prepared by dr. hab. Piotr Oszczanowski and dr Aurelia Zduńczyk, shows the influence of the Flemish master on local artists and collectors.
The Silesian love for Rubens began during the artist's lifetime. In 1636, the Wrocław painter Johann Lichtenstein visited Rubens' Antwerp workshop, which probably influenced his work after returning to Wrocław. Earlier, in 1635, the masters of the painters' guild Martin Fest and Georg Scholtz Sr. contacted Rubens about a document concerning the deceased painter Balthasar Steinmann.
Other Silesian artists, such as Ezekiel Paritius and Albrecht von Sebisch, also collected works by Rubens, which testifies to the profound influence of the Flemish master on the region.
Portrait of Helene Fourment - Unspecified Painter after Rubens' Art - Exhibition Rubens in Silesia / press materials of the National Museum in WrocławThe exhibition presents around 200 works, including for the first time in Poland drawings by Michael Willmann, a Brussels tapestry from around 1650 and Rubens's graphics from former Wrocław collections. Paintings by Rubens and works from his workshop from Polish and foreign collections were loaned especially for this occasion.
During the preparations for the exhibition, new discoveries were made. During the conservation of the painting "Vision of St. Aloysius" from the church of St. Anne in Gliwice - Łabędy, the signature of PH Franck, an artist from Rubens' workshop, was discovered. The National Museum in Wrocław has also enriched its collection with graphic matrices for the engravings "Old Women with a Candle and a Youth" and "Coronation of St. Catherine", made by Rubens himself.
Exhibition Rubens in Silesia / press materials of the National Museum in WrocławThe exhibition draws attention to the complicated fates of old Silesian collections. An example is the palace in Brzezinka near Oleśnica, once the seat of the von Kospoth family, owners of an impressive collection of works of art. Rubens' painting "The Holy Family with a Dove", from this collection, is currently located at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Peter Paul Rubens - The Holy Family with a Dove - 1608-1609 / Los Angeles County Museum of Arts - press materials of the National Museum in WrocławThe largest work from Brzezinka – the Baroque ceiling painting "Apollo as a Guide of the Musical Muses" by Johann Franz de Backer – was transferred to the National Museum in Wrocław after the war and will soon undergo conservation.
The exhibition "Rubens in Silesia" will last until November 30, 2025. Its curators are Dr. Piotr Oszczanowski and Dr. Aurelia Zduńczyk.
