AN UNKNOWN ARTIST, ASTRONOMIC OBSERVATORY IN THE BOTANIC GARDEN AT WESOŁA

Oil, canvas, 82 x 75 cm, traces of signature p.d.(?). The creation of the botanical garden of the Krakow Academy on the former grounds of the suburban Czartoryski villa in 1783 is associated with the Enlightenment reform of Kollataj. The Baroque garden, with a regular arrangement of quarters designed by the Viennese Franz Kajzer, housed a collection of medicinal and ornamental plants and greenhouses built with funds from the Primate of Poland, Bishop Michał Poniatowski. Until the 18th century, the Prądnik River flowed through the grounds of today's garden, a remnant of which is now a pond. The building of the Astronomical Observatory, which operated under the direction of Jan Sniadecki, was rebuilt in 1788-1792 according to the design of Felix Radwanski (father) and Stanislaw Zawadzki.