TREASURES OF POLISH CULTURE FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE POLISH LIBRARY IN PARIS (Skarby polskiej kultury ze zbiorów Biblioteki Polskiej w Paryzu)

The Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature in Warsaw, the Warsaw Cultural Foundation and the Polish Library in Paris prepared in the spring of 2004 an unprecedented monumental exhibition - 'Treasures of Polish Culture from the Collection of Polish Library in Paris', which was presented in the A. Mickiewicz Museum and the National Museum in Warsaw. The general public has become acquainted for the first time ever with the history, operation and the art collection of the Polish Library in Paris, the oldest and largest Polish émigré centre. The exhibits included historic memorabilia, documents and works of art: paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures, two hundred in all, each of remarkable artistic and historic value. The displayed works have been perfectly restored, and presented in a setting corresponding to their value. An undertaking like this could not be carried into effect without enormous funds, necessary for the restoration of the exhibits, their transport and insurance, in addition to the preparation of a professional catalogue in Polish and French, containing the first scholarly elaboration of the Library holdings. The exhibition of the 'Treasures of Polish Culture from the Collection of the Polish Library in Paris' was an expression of our homage to the foremost centres of the Polish emigration.