Maria Konopnicka Monument (Warsaw)

Maria Konopnicka Monument

The monument in 2011.
52°14′29.4″N21°00′21.3″E / 52.241500°N 21.005917°E / 52.241500; 21.005917
Location	Saxon Garden, Downtown, Warsaw, Poland
Designer	Stanisław Kulon
Type	Statue
Material	Syenite
Opening date	22 May 1966
Dedicated to	Maria Konopnicka

Maria Konopnicka Monument (Polish: Pomnik Marii Konopnickiej) is a syenite statue in Warsaw, Poland, within the Saxon Garden in the Downtown district. It is dedicated to Maria Konopnicka, a 19th- and 20th-century poet, novelist, children's writer, and activist for women's rights and the independence of Poland. It was designed by Stanisław Kulon, and unvailed on 22 May 1966.

History

The monument dedicated to Maria Konopnicka was proposed by the students of the Primary School no. 11 in Kalisz, whose appeal was publicised in children's biweekly magazine Płomyczek . It led to people from across the country donating money to the cause, collecting around 600,000 zloties. ^{[1] [2]}

The monument was made by sculptor Stanisław Kulon, and unveiled on 22 May 1966, a day prior to the 124th anniversary of Konopnicka's birth. For his work, the author was awarded with the Honourary Badge of Merit to Warsaw. ^{[1] [2]}

Characteristics

The monument is located in the northwestern portion of the Saxon Garden. It consists of a syenite statue depicting Maria Konopnicka in a sitting position. It is placed on a low pedestal. It bears three Polish inscriptions, which are

• on the front: Marii Konopnickiej – dzieci (translation: To Maria Konopnicka, the children);
• on the right: Odsłonięty 22 maja 1966 roku (translation: Unveiled on 22 May 1966)
• and on the left: Pomnik ufundowany ze składek dzieci staraniem redakcji „Płomyczka” i Towarzystwa im. Marii Konopnickiej (translation: The monument was founded by children's donations with the help of the editors of Płomyczek and the Maria Konopnicka Association). ^{[1] [2] [3]}

References

1. Irena Grzesiuk-Olszewska: Warszawska rzeźba pomnikowa. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Neriton, 2003, p. 127. ISBN   83-88973-59-2. (in Polish)
2. Wiesław Głębocki: Warszawskie pomniki. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo PTTK Kraj, 1990, p. 63. ISBN   83-7005-211-8. (in Polish)
3. "Pomnik Marii Konopnickiej – Warszawa". sztuka.net (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-12.