Conservation of works of art
The conservation of works of art is an integral part of the Wawel Royal Castle’s activities.
The first conservators worked here even before the museum was officially opened in 1930, preparing the reclaimed collections for exhibition. The beginnings of organised conservation care date back to the 1920s, when, under the provisions of the Treaty of Riga (1921), many works of art returned to Poland, and they often required conservation work. Then, the first workshops were established, which transformed into specialised, modern conservation studios over time.
Today, an experienced and competent team from the Conservation Department cares for the museum objects at Wawel. Working in accordance with the highest international standards, conservators restore exhibits to their former glory, respecting the authenticity of the material, artistic value, and history of each object. The Wawel Royal Castle has been carrying out large-scale conservation projects for many years. Among the most important ones are the conservation of eighty-seven Italian and Spanish paintings from the 14th–16th centuries – a gift from Karolina Lanckorońska (1994–2010); the conservation of Jan Matejko’s monumental Prussian Homage (2006–2007); the long-term conservation of four tapestries of King Sigismund Augustus from the series The History of the Tower of Babel (2004–2014), and the conservation and restoration of a Meissen porcelain sculpture depicting the crucifixion of Christ by Johann Joachim Kaendler (1995–2001), one of only three surviving in the world. In addition, the conservation workshops participate in the creation of exhibitions, preparing objects for display. Recent examples include the permanent exhibitions Crown Treasury (2022), Porcelain Cabinet (2024), and Wawel Underground. Lapidarium (2024/2025) as well as the temporary exhibitions ‘All the King’s Tapestries. Homecomings 2021–1961–1921’ (2021) and ‘The Image of the Golden Age’ (2023).
The conservation workshops are also engaged in education, participating in events held at the Castle, as well as organising student internships and professional traineeships, sharing their knowledge with future generations. The conservators of the Wawel Royal Castle are constantly enhancing their skills by participating in workshops, courses, and specialised conferences.
Chief Museum Conservator: Dr Aleksandra Hola
Dr Aleksandra Hola is an art conservator specialising in the structural conservation of paintings on wood. In 2011, she obtained a doctoral degree in the conservation and restoration of works of art at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. She gained experience as a Paul J. Getty Foundation scholarship holder at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage KIK-IRPA in Brussels, the London Studio of the Hamilton Kerr Institute, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, among others. She has participated in the structural conservation of paintings of Lucas Cranach the Elder, Caravaggio, Jan Brueghel the Younger, and Peter Paul Rubens. Between 2018 and 2023, she was a member of the presidium of ENCoRE (European Network for Conservation and Restoration Education).
She is an experienced manager of conservation projects; she has published many articles and studies on technological issues and painting conservation, both in Polish and international specialised publications. In 2018, she co-curated the exhibition ‘The Master and Catherine. Hans Suess von Kulmbach and his works for Kraków’ at the National Museum in Kraków.
Since 2024, she has been the Chief Conservator of the Wawel Royal Castle. She continues to teach second- and fifth-year students at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and collaborates with St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków, continuously improving and developing her skills.
Contact:
e-mail: aleksandra.hola@wawelzamek.pl
phone: +48 12.422.51.55, ext. 205, 338
Contact:
e-mail: aleksandra.hola@wawelzamek.pl
phone: +48 12.422.51.55, ext. 205, 338
Painting Conservation Workshop
The workshop team consists of highly qualified and experienced conservators who work on easel paintings made on various substrates, such as wood, canvas, and metal.
The team’s primary goal is to protect and preserve works of art while respecting their history, artistic value, original material, and technology of execution. Conservation work is carried out on the basis of technological research. This allows for informed conservation decisions to be made and deepens knowledge about the structure and condition of the objects, as well as their provenance and authenticity. The studio actively cooperates with scientific laboratories and domestic and foreign experts, maintaining particularly close relations with the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. Cooperation and continuous development of the team ensure that conservation and research activities are carried out in accordance with current international standards.
Team
Leader: Katarzyna Siwczyńska
Dr Angelika Bogdanowicz-Prus
Karol Brzozowski
Jan Kietliński
Stanisław Łuczak
Dr Małgorzata Stachurska-Barańska
Justyna Wyszkowska
Antique Furniture, Sculpture, and Frame Conservation Workshop
It is an interdisciplinary workshop that combines the expertise of three specialised teams of conservators. Their common goal is to preserve authenticity and artistic value through the conservation, research, and documentation of objects made of wood and stone, often gilded and polychromed with inlays.
The Furniture Conservation Team specialises in the comprehensive protection of antique furniture collections that complement the exhibition. The conservation work carried out is of a high standard. An individual approach to each object and awareness of the decisions made allows for the long-term protection of the furniture. The team cooperates with external researchers, which makes it possible to examine the preserved objects in terms of technique and technology, as well as to carry out their thorough diagnosis and reliable documentation. The specialists exchange experience and develop their competencies at the same time.
The Sculpture Conservation Team conserves wooden, stone, and plaster sculptures. Conservation work is carried out on the basis of research. Experience and analysis ensure that the level of restoration work results in long-lasting quality.
The Frame Conservation Team specialises in the restoration and conservation of objects made using gilding techniques, including frames for paintings, sculptures, furniture, and other artistic crafts. The work includes conservation and restoration, as well as technological research. The experienced team combines conservation treatments with traditional techniques. The openness and development of the team enable it to help all conservation workshops.
Team
Leader: Piotr Jarek
Maciej Baran
Marta Buczkowska
Jan Oliwa
Katarzyna Oramus
Dominik Synowiec
Joanna Szegda
Paper and Leather Conservation Workshop
The Paper and Leather Conservation Workshop at the Wawel Royal Castle deals with the conservation of historical artefacts made on organic substrates, i.e. paper, parchment, and leather. The workshop’s activities include old editions, prints, drawings, manuscripts, watercolours, and pastels, as well as maps, archival documents, bookbindings, and leather interior design elements (including leather wallpapers, fragments of artistic crafts and furniture).
The workshop team carries out its work in accordance with the highest conservation standards, ensuring the stability of materials and their aesthetic integrity. Conservation is based on a detailed analysis of the technology used in the production and the condition of the object, as well as on the use of reversible and non-invasive methods. The aim of these activities is to ensure the durability and aesthetics of the objects while respecting their historical authenticity.
Team
Leader: Ewa Pietrzak
Katarzyna Dudek
Artistic Craft Conservation Workshop
The Artistic Craft Conservation Workshop at the Wawel Royal Castle specialises in the conservation and restoration of objects related to traditional crafts – historical artefacts made of such materials as noble and base metals, ceramics, glass, stone, and bone.
The workshop’s conservators combine technological knowledge with craftsmanship experience, carrying out their work with respect for historical manufacturing methods and the artistic character of the works. Depending on the needs, conservation may include both cleaning and securing objects, as well as reconstructing details or decorative layers. The workshop cooperates with other conservation teams and external experts, conducting work in accordance with current international standards.
Team
Leader: Daniel Bednarczyk
Tadeusz Galant
Aleksandra Jagiełka
Maria Kisiel-Jarek
Magdalena Otłowska
Textile Conservation Workshop
The first mentions of the Textile Conservation Workshop date back to 1927. The team specialises in the conservation of textiles of high artistic and historical value. A special place in the Studio’s activities is occupied by the monumental tapestries of Sigismund Augustus – one of the most valuable and vast collections of Renaissance tapestries in the world.
Highly qualified conservators and experienced renovators carry out comprehensive conservation of textiles, i.e. tapestries, carpets, wall hangings, tents, banners, liturgical vestments, clothing, and other textile objects. Conservation work includes cleaning, structural stabilisation, and securing textiles on double-layer substrates using the needle method or specialised adhesives. In addition, restoration work is carried out, i.e. the reconstruction of damaged parts with respect for the original technology and aesthetics of the works.
The workshop actively cooperates with domestic and foreign institutions, implementing modern research and conservation methods. In 2023, a research and conservation project financed by the Zygmunt Zaleski Stichting Foundation was launched, covering the four most damaged Sigismund tapestries. In the first phase, specialist research on the historic material and analyses related to conservation prevention issues was carried out. The research part of the project was completed in 2024, and conservation work is currently underway.
Team
Leader: Jerzy Holc
Ewa Kalfas
Sławomir Korzeniowski
Ewa Mardak
Elżbieta Nowak
Emilia Nowak Przybyszewska
Joanna Pasieka
Damian Pyznar
Karolina Szlęk
Anna Trzepacz
Marzena Woźniak
Eryka Zander-Gimińska
Archaeological Monument Conservation Workshop
The Workshop team is responsible for the protection of objects originating from archaeological research conducted on Wawel Hill and in its immediate surroundings. The preserved artefacts include objects made of inorganic mineral materials: metal, ceramics, glass, and organic materials such as leather, fabric, wood, and bone, often in severe degradation.
The aim of the workshop is not only to secure and preserve the structure of these unique objects, but also to restore their legibility and enable further research and exhibition.
Team
Leader: Ewa Gryglewicz
Barbara Kostecka
Agnieszka Wojtasik
Conservation Prevention Department
The Conservation Prevention Department at the Wawel Royal Castle is responsible for the long-term protection of museum collections through preventive measures. The team’s main tasks include monitoring and controlling environmental conditions in exhibition spaces, storage areas, and during transport, as well as analysing threats to objects, including biological, chemical, and mechanical hazards.
The Department team develops recommendations for storage and exhibition and actively supports exhibition and transport activities in terms of conservation safety. Close cooperation with conservation workshops as well as measurement and research facilities enable quick response to environmental changes and minimise the risk of damage to the collections.
Team
Leader: Magdalena Soboń
Grzegorz Nesterowicz
Justyna Osuch