Museum Lessons

The Profession of an Archaeologist
How did the lives of mammoth hunters differ from those of medieval town dwellers? What was a lunula, and what was a fibula? The archaeological exhibition will serve as a starting point for discussions about different epochs in human history. We will also learn about the Neolithic Revolution and whether pyramids were built in Poland.

A Castle Wasn’t Built in a Day – The Archaeological History of Castle Hill in Lublin
Together, we will travel back to the beginnings of settlement in what is now Lublin and examine what archaeologists discovered when studying Castle Hill. Will we find out what a medieval stronghold looked like and who its inhabitants were? Archaeological artifacts will reveal all their secrets to us.

From Knight to Soldier – The Weaponry of Poland
What weapons did the legendary Zawisza Czarny wield, and what did the soldiers defending Poland’s borders use? Who fought with a saber, and who carried a mace? We will examine museum displays in search of melee and firearm weapons, armor, and military equipment. At the end, we will test our participants’ discipline in a museum-style military drill.

The Jagiellonians in Lublin
During this session, we will visit Lublin at the height of its glory—during the reign of the Jagiellonian dynasty. We will talk about the famous Lublin fairs, the royal chronicler and tutor of royal children, Jan Długosz, and, most importantly, the Polish-Lithuanian unions and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The Union of Lublin
We will discuss the Union of Lublin, one of the most significant events in Polish history, using a painting by the master Matejko. Could July 1, 1569, have looked as the artist depicted it? We will answer this question by analyzing available sources and searching for clues in the painting.

Kings at the Castle
Some inherited the throne, while others were elected. Kings, their achievements, and their rule will be the focus of this museum lesson. We will journey through history from Casimir the Great to Stanisław August Poniatowski. And perhaps we will also find female rulers among Poland’s monarchs?

Hidden Meanings
The museum’s corners hold many secrets. We will play the role of detectives and discover, among other things, why a centuries-old sword is curled into a spiral, how to find secret compartments in antique furniture, and how to decipher hidden messages in paintings.

Among Flowers, Meadows, and Forests – Plants in Art
Artists have often drawn inspiration from the nature surrounding them. Among the museum exhibits, we will find many examples of this. Can we recognize familiar flowers, trees, and fruits in the paintings?

Saints from the Calendar
Why did Saint Michael push cabbage into a barrel, and why does a mouse search for grains in the field on Saint Francis’ day? Which saint holds a lamb, and which releases a lark from a pouch? We will talk about patron saints, their attributes, and important dates in the Polish folk calendar.

Landscape, Portrait, and Veduta
Among the museum’s collections, we can find paintings created over hundreds of years. What do they tell us, and how? During this lesson, we will organize our knowledge of painting genres and discuss the themes portrayed in artworks.

Behind the Scenes of a Painting
Before starting a painting, an artist must decide what techniques and materials to use. Should they choose oil paints or pastels? From which angle should they depict the subject? In this session, we will explore different painting techniques, types of composition, and perspectives.

In Search of the Third Dimension
Can works of art come to life? And how can this be achieved? We will discuss ways to go beyond the two-dimensional nature of a painting, perception in art, and the power of illusion. We will discover that not everything is as it seems.

Museum Workshops

Shaped from Clay
In the first session, we will explore various pottery techniques and decoration methods used since the Neolithic era. At the end, we will play the role of potters and create different clay toys. In subsequent classes, our works will be glazed and ready to take home. A one-day workshop is also available, where participants create works without glazing or using self-hardening clay.

Building Castles
During this session, we will learn about the history of Lublin Castle, its oldest buildings, and their functions. Inspired by a model of Castle Hill, we will create our own miniature cardboard castle layouts.

In a Wig or a Beret – The Art of Portraiture
Profile or en face. Bust-length or contrapposto. Idealized or exposing imperfections. This time, we will explore different portrait styles through the ages and their purposes, and create our own unique portraits.

The Art of Beautiful Writing – Calligraphy Lessons
Using old handwriting patterns and traditional writing tools such as goose quills, dip pens, ink, and inkwells, we will practice the art of writing. Through calligraphy exercises, we will develop a sense of beauty and aesthetics while also improving precision and patience.

Painting Like a Master
This workshop is dedicated to painting and drawing techniques. Depending on preferences, we offer a tour of the 19th–20th Century Polish Painting Gallery or the “Zamek” Group and Avant-garde Gallery, followed by a workshop where participants create their own artworks using paints or pastels. Sessions can focus on various painting themes, such as still life, portraiture, or landscapes.

Painting on Glass
Paintings are created not only on canvas, paper, or wood. This time, we will explore the art of painting on glass. We will imitate folk self-taught masters or create our own paintings on glass panels.

Matter Painting
Can gloss, stickiness, or roughness be the subject of a work of art? What is sand or decayed wood doing beneath layers of hardened paint and varnish? With the eye of an avant-garde artist, we will examine the properties of the materials that make up our world and create our own assemblage-style artworks.