Apollo - the Copernican Solar System, Stained glass window at Medical Society House in Krakow, Poland.
Apollo - the Copernican Solar System is a stained glass window in the Medical Society House in Krakow that depicts Apollo holding a lyre, surrounded by the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Earth, and Venus. The composition illustrates the sun-centered view of the cosmos and blends classical mythology with astronomical imagery in detailed glasswork.
Stanisław Wyspiański created this window in 1905 as a decorative element for the newly built Medical Society House. The work appeared during a period when combining scientific imagery with artistic craftsmanship was highly valued for modern institutional spaces.
The window brings together ancient mythology and scientific observation, showing how artists of the early 1900s drew inspiration from astronomy. The connection between Apollo and the planetary arrangement reflects how people then wanted to express their knowledge of the cosmos through art.
The window is located inside the Medical Society House and can be viewed during the regular opening hours of the institution. The building sits in the heart of Krakow's old town and is easily accessible on foot.
Unlike most of his glass works, this window was made for a secular building rather than a church space. The design was based on a pastel drawing that Wyspianski created specifically for this commission.
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