Let's follow the trail of plants and animals - both those living in the gardens and those decorating the Wilanów palace and presented at the exhibition.
The Plants and Animals. Atlases of Natural History in the Age of Linnaeus Exhibition has inspired us to encourage visitors to pursue and create new connections. A careful observer will spot scores of animate world representatives in Wilanów interiors and the surrounding gardens. Plants and animals, whose presence is obvious outdoors, happen to also fill up painting canvass space, sit atop column capitals, and decorate objects of everyday use.
Plant and animal representations not only serve decorative purposes, they also add to the meaning conveyed by art. Plant and animal depictions symbolise specific traits, behaviours, and concepts. Deciphering the hidden message might prove quite a challenge.
On Palace and garden maps, we marked spots where you can find some of the plants and animals immortalised in Exhibition engravings and atlases, along with a brief description of a given species. What do these plants and animals mean? Why are they here, in Wilanów? This sheet will give you the answers.