Floriańska Street in Kraków forms part of the historic Royal Route, which led from Wawel Castle northwards through the country. Owing to the importance of this route, the street was already lined with buildings in the Middle Ages. The townhouse at 41 Floriańska Street was built in the 16th century and underwent several renovations over the centuries. Its present appearance was given in the 1870s by the architect Tomasz Pryliński in collaboration with Jan Matejko, the owner of the house and already a renowned painter associated with Historicism and the Kraków School of Fine Arts (later the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków). 
Jan Matejko was born, lived, and died in the family home on Floriańska Street. The townhouse witnessed his artistic work, family life, and public activities, particularly his efforts to research, preserve, and protect Poland’s historical heritage. Among the extensive collection of memorabilia left by the artist are historical artefacts from various periods, as well as a remarkable collection of documentary drawings of historic sites and monuments. Matejko often used these drawings as preparatory studies for his large-scale paintings, including works that are now displayed in the 19th-Century Polish Art Gallery at the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall).