The universality of Chopin’s music means that he is commemorated in many countries through a variety of artistic forms, such as statues, commemorative plaques and even museums. These tangible tributes pay homage to his genius and highlight the impact he has had on global culture.

Traces of Chopin’s life are linked to his long-term stay in France, as well as his travels to places such as London, Vienna, Dresden and Majorca, and to locations where he stopped off for shorter or longer periods whilst on the move. However, apart from these mementoes of Chopin’s presence, many sites – primarily monuments – were erected to commemorate and pay tribute to the artist’s musical genius; these can be found not only in Europe, but also in Asia and the Americas.

Chopin’s travels abroad

• 1828 – Berlin, an educational trip to Berlin.
• 1829 – Vienna, a journey via Moravia, Prague, Teplice and Dresden. The route took him through Opoczno, Końskie, Kraków, Wadowice, Bielsko, Cieszyn and Moravia. The return journey took a different route: via Prague and Teplice (during this stay he gave a concert at the Clary-Aldringen Castle), and then on 25 August he left for Dresden.
• 1830 – departure from Poland, Prague, Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Munich and Stuttgart, Paris. Chopin stopped in Prague on 20 November 1830, then spent time in Vienna from December until 20 July 1831. In August, he left Vienna via Linz, Salzburg, Munich and Stuttgart, arriving in Paris on 11 October 1831.
• 1835 – Karlovy Vary, Děčín, Dresden, Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main, Heidelberg. The main purpose of the trip was to meet his parents in Karlovy Vary (15 August). Then, in September, they visited Děčín, and on the return journey he stopped in Dresden, Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main and Heidelberg, returning to Paris on 20 October.
• 1836 – Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad), Dresden, Leipzig. He travelled to Mariánské Lázně, then on 8 September went to Dresden, and afterwards to Leipzig. On 20 September, he returned to Paris.
• 1837 – London. Chopin’s first trip to England, during which he gave concerts in London.
• 1838/1839 – Majorca, Valldemossa, Barcelona, Marseille. On 18 October 1838, George Sand (1804–1876) set off on a journey to Majorca. Chopin left Paris a little later; they met on 31 October in Perpignan. They spent the beginning of November in Barcelona, then travelled on to Palma de Mallorca. In December they were in Valldemossa. Chopin returned via Barcelona and Marseille, where he stayed for three months. He returned to Paris on 11 October 1839.
• 1841–1847 – Nohant-Vic. Chopin visited George Sand’s summer residence in Nohant-Vic every year (seven visits in total).
• 1848 – London, Edinburgh, Manchester (April–November). During his final tour, Chopin gave concerts in London (he set sail for London on 20 April 1848). He first stayed in Folkestone, then at 10 Bentinck Street near Cavendish Square in London, before moving to a superior flat at 48 Dover Street, Piccadilly. He then travelled to Edinburgh, where he stayed at Calder House; he also visited the family estate of Jane Stirling (1804–1859) in Scotland, and later performed in Manchester and Glasgow, where he stayed at Johnstone Castle; there, at Marchants Hall, he gave a small concert on 27 September. Finally, he performed at the Hopetoun Rooms in Edinburgh, before returning to London, where he gave his final concert at the Guildhall on 16 November 1848. On 23 November, due to his deteriorating health, this proved to be a very exhausting journey.

Chopin’s legacy

Paris is a city that harbours many places associated with the life and work of Frédéric Chopin. One of these is a tenement house in Montmartre, at 27 Boulevard Poissonnière, where in 1831 Chopin found his first permanent accommodation in the attic. Today, the site is marked by a commemorative plaque. Similar plaques can be found on three more of the nine tenement blocks where Chopin lived during his time in the French capital.

Paris is also home to the venues where Chopin gave concerts and took part in social life. One such venue is what is now the Hotel Washington Opera, where a banquet for Polish émigrés was held in late July 1832. Another place of remembrance is the Polish Library in Paris, where Chopin’s drawing room has been recreated; it was here that the composer used to meet with friends and other artists.

Commemorative plaques can be found at the places where he stayed during his travels across Europe, including in Vienna, Prague, Majorca, Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně.

During his trips to England in 1837 and 1848, Chopin met with a mixed reception from the public. In London, where he gave his last public concert, there is a plaque commemorating this event. In Manchester, where the composer was received much more warmly, a monument was erected to commemorate his only concert, which took place on 28 August 1848 at the Concert Hall.

First memorial: his grave at the Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris

The first sculptural memorial to Chopin was his grave at the famous Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. The monument was created by Auguste Jean-Baptiste Clésinger (1814–1883), a French sculptor and the son-in-law of George Sand, with whom the composer had been associated for many years. Clésinger, known for creating allegorical compositions in the academic classical style, placed a marble figure of a muse leaning over a broken lyre on the plinth of the tomb.

On the front of the plinth is a medallion bearing a left-profile portrait of Chopin and the inscription: ‘À Frédéric Chopin, ses amis’ (‘To Frédéric Chopin, his friends’). The monument was unveiled on 17 October 1850, on the first anniversary of the composer’s death.

Although the work was intended to pay tribute to the great artist, it was met with criticism. Cyprian Kamil Norwid (1821–1883) described it as ‘a shamefully carved monument, resembling a weeping woman holding a lyre’, expressing his dissatisfaction with its artistic form.

Painted portraits of Chopin

Portraits of Chopin, created both during his lifetime and after his death, are not only a record of his likeness but also a testament to the influence he exerted on world culture. Below we present the most important portraits of Fryderyk Chopin in world art outside Poland.

One of the most famous portraits of Chopin is the work of Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863), a leading figure of French Romanticism. Painted between 1838 and 1839, the painting was originally part of a larger composition depicting Fryderyk Chopin and George Sand, his close friend and life partner.

Delacroix captured Chopin in a moment of concentration at the piano, conveying his artistic sensitivity and emotional depth. The original canvas was later divided into two separate portraits, of which the portrait of Chopin is now housed in the Louvre in Paris.

The second well-known portrait was painted by Ary Scheffer (1795–1858), a Dutch painter working in France, who was a close friend of Chopin’s. In 1847, he painted a portrait of the composer, which is now in the collection of the Carnavalet Museum in Paris.

The painting depicts Chopin in elegant attire, with a gentle expression that reflects his subtle nature and artistic sensibility. Thanks to his personal relationship with Chopin, Scheffer was able to capture not only the composer’s physical features, but also his inner world.

Sculptural portraits

In 1831, whilst Chopin was staying in Vienna, what is believed to be the first bust of Chopin was created; however, it has not survived to the present day. Ten years later, in 1841, a second bust was created by Jean-Pierre Dantan (1800–1869); although it did not meet with Chopin’s approval – he wrote: ‘Don’t send my bust home, just leave it in the wardrobe, lest they be frightened’, it is, in formal terms, a successful sculpture – classical in style and idealised, yet also capturing Chopin’s characteristic nose.

The bust is known from numerous plaster casts, as well as several bronze ones. A plaster cast from 1841 remained in Poland until the Second World War, but was destroyed during the Second World War. Currently, the bronze casts are held in foreign collections at the Musée Dantan and the Musée Carnavalet (the Chopin Society in Warsaw also has a bronze cast in its collection), whilst the plaster casts, apart from those in private collections, are held at the Musée Carnavalet in Paris.

The monument in Parc Monceau

In 1906, another statue of Chopin, by Jacques Froment-Meurice (1864–1947), was unveiled in Paris’s Parc Monceau. The sculpture depicts the composer playing the piano. At his feet sits a woman covering her eyes – an allegory of harmony or of being lost in the music. Above the piano hovers a female figure emerging from the clouds and scattering flowers, symbolising inspiration or a muse. The monument bears a simple inscription: ‘F. Chopin’.

The monument in Brazil

In 1944, in response to the destruction by the Germans of the Chopin monument in Warsaw, the Polish community in Brazil launched a fundraising campaign to commission a monument to the composer in Rio de Janeiro. The work by August Zamoyski (1893–1970), one of Poland’s leading sculptors, depicts a pensive, youthful figure of Chopin standing overlooking Praia Vermelha Bay. The monument was unveiled on 1 September 1944 in front of the Municipal Theatre, and was subsequently moved to its current location by the sea.

Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (1894–1890) described the work as follows: ‘In the Chopin monument – the most beautiful monument I know – Zamoyski achieved a magical art […]. He created an idealised yet true Chopin. Zamoyski was a poet.’

The largest monument

The largest Chopin monument in the world, and the first Polish monument in China, is the monument in Shanghai by Lu Pin (born 1972). It was commissioned by You Jianner, a Chinese entrepreneur with Polish citizenship, and Marek Niewiarowski, Secretary-General of the International Fryderyk Chopin Federation in Warsaw.

The monument was cast at the Gliwice Technical Equipment Works and unveiled on 3 March 2007 during a ceremony marked by a concert in which 70 pianists played the Polonaise in A flat major simultaneously.

The sculptor, Lu Pin, emphasised in interviews:

‘I knew that I wanted to interpret the music rather than Chopin’s figure. I layered metaphors upon one another, seeking a message that would be fully understandable to my compatriots.’

In 2008, a smaller-scale replica of the monument was unveiled in Beijing, at the Chaoyang Cultural Centre.

A replica of the Warsaw monument in Hamamatsu

In the Japanese city of Hamamatsu, known for its production of musical instruments, a replica of the Warsaw Chopin monument by Wacław Szymanowski (1859–1930) was erected in 1994. The monument was donated by the Warsaw authorities and symbolises cultural cooperation between Poland and Japan, which began with an agreement in 1990.

Singapore: a monument in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

In the Singapore Botanic Gardens stands a monument to Chopin by Karol Badyna (b. 1960), depicting the composer playing the piano whilst a lady listens intently. The figures are life-size, and the sheet music spread out before them features the score of one of Chopin’s polonaises. The piano has been reduced to its keyboard alone, which gives the sculpture a unique character. The patrons were: the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and private sponsors.

The Chopin Society in Singapore began its activities with the unveiling of the monument. Next to the monument stands a bench which plays the composer’s works.

The symbolism and significance of Chopin’s monuments

Monuments to Fryderyk Chopin are not merely physical structures commemorating him as a person. They serve as a bridge between the past and the present, uniting generations and nations through a shared musical experience. Sculptures and monuments dedicated to the composer often reflect not only his likeness, but above all the spirit of his music – full of emotion, nostalgia and deep reflection.

These artistic expressions of respect take various forms and styles, ranging from classical busts to modern installations. They utilise a variety of materials, such as bronze, marble or granite, which further emphasises the universality and timelessness of his work. They are often placed in public spaces – parks, squares and in front of cultural institutions – where they are accessible to a wide audience, which helps to popularise his music and keep his memory alive.

The global reach of the commemoration

The presence of Chopin’s monuments on various continents testifies to the global reach of his influence. In Europe, apart from Poland, he is particularly commemorated in France, where he spent a significant part of his life, but also in other countries with which he was connected through his travels or cultural influences.

However, it is not only Europe that honours the composer’s memory. In Asia, particularly in Japan and China, his music enjoys immense popularity, as reflected in the numerous monuments and musical events dedicated to him. In the Americas, and even in Africa and Australia, one can find places dedicated to Chopin, which underlines the universality of his message.

Monuments and other forms of commemoration of Chopin often serve as a source of inspiration for local communities. They are not only a tribute to the composer, but also serve as a starting point for organising cultural events, such as concerts, festivals and piano competitions. As a result, his music is a constant presence in the cultural life of various countries, and successive generations have the opportunity to discover and reinterpret it.

In many places, Chopin’s monuments form part of wider educational and cultural initiatives. They provide an opportunity to promote classical music, musical education for children and young people, and to foster international cultural relations. In this way, commemorating the composer translates into tangible actions that enrich social and cultural life.

Artistic interpretations of the composer

The diversity of artistic forms in which Chopin is commemorated reflects the multifaceted perception of his person and his work. Some monuments focus on a realistic depiction of his likeness, capturing the physical features known from portraits and contemporary descriptions. Others, however, take a more symbolic approach, seeking to capture the essence of his music or the emotions it evokes.

The artists creating these works are often guided by the idea of conveying the elusive nature of Chopin’s music – its melancholy, passion and subtlety. To this end, they employ various means of expression, ranging from the dynamics of line and form to the play of light and shadow on the surface of the sculpture. As a result, each of these works becomes a unique interpretation of his art and personality.

Impact on international cultural relations

Monuments and other forms of commemoration of Fryderyk Chopin around the world bear witness to the extraordinary influence that his music has had, and continues to have, on people of different nationalities and cultures. They serve not only as a tribute to his genius, but also as a means of promoting universal humanistic values, such as beauty, emotional depth and spiritual reflection.

Through these tangible forms of remembrance, Chopin remains present in the public consciousness, inspiring successive generations of artists and music lovers. His music, rich in personal expression and an embodiment of national identity, speaks to people all over the world, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. In this way, Chopin’s monuments are not merely historical landmarks, but living symbols of humanity’s enduring cultural heritage.

Catalogue of Polish cultural artefacts associated with Fryderyk Chopin

List of Fryderyk Chopin monuments

Europe

Austria

• Vienna
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument in Vienna, entitled ‘La note bleue’, refers to the metaphorical ‘blue note’ that Chopin’s partner, George Sand, perceived in his music. The monument was created by the sculptor Krzysztof M. Bednarski (born 1953), whose design won a competition organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute. The monument was unveiled in Schweizergarten Park in 2010 to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

Albania

• Tirana
  In November 2003, a monument to Fryderyk Chopin was unveiled in Tirana. It was created by the Polish sculptor Andrzej Renes (b. 1958), who is also the creator of, amongst others, the monuments to Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and the Katyn victims in Warsaw. In the late 1980s, the artist created three series of sculptures dedicated to Chopin – the first depicting his family, the second being ‘Impressions’, inspired by the composer’s individual works, and the third ‘Portraits’. The bust from the monument in Tirana belongs to this series. The sculpture is made of bronze – the figurative representation – and copper – the geometric, prismatic form serving as the background. The plinth originally bore the inscription FREDERIK SCHOPEN / 1810–1849 //.

Czech Republic

• Mariánské Lázně
  The monument to Frédéric Chopin by Karel Otáhal (1901–1972), dating from 1960, is situated in the town park. It features a bas-relief medallion bearing Chopin’s likeness and an inscription in Czech and Polish commemorating the composer’s stay in Mariánské Lázně.
• Olešnice v Orlických horách (Orlica peak)
  A monument commemorating Fryderyk Chopin’s stay on Orlica. Orlica is a mountain on the Polish–Czech border, but its peak, where the monument stands, is on the Czech side. The monument is made of smooth stone, in the shape of a truncated cone, with an inscription in Czech.
• Bogumin
  A monument to Fryderyk Chopin dating from 1962. The monument takes the form of a boulder (sandstone); on the front is a metal plaque depicting Chopin’s head in profile, turned to the left, with an inscription below. Beneath this plaque is a second plaque made of black igneous rock (diorite?) with an inscription engraved on it, the letters filled with gold paint.

France

• Paris
  The monument to Fryderyk Chopin in Parc Monceau, unveiled in 1906 and designed by Jacques Froment-Meurice, depicts the composer at the piano accompanied by the allegorical figures of Harmony and Music.
• Paris
  Chopin’s tombstone at Père-Lachaise Cemetery, dating from 1850 and designed by Jean-Baptiste Clésinger, depicts the muse Euterpe leaning over a broken lyre. It is a place of pilgrimage for music lovers from all over the world. It underwent a thorough renovation between 2017 and 2018.
• Paris
  The monument to Frédéric Chopin in the Luxembourg Gardens. The bust is set on a high plinth, featuring a female figure in relief and an inscription commemorating the composer. The initiative to erect the monument came from the musicians F.-Henry Peru (d. 1922) and Jules Massenet (1842–1912), and it was sculpted by Georges Dubois (1865–1934). At the base of the bust is a dedication by Dubois to his pupil. The Art Nouveau-style plinth blends harmoniously with the surroundings of the Luxembourg Gardens. The monument has had a turbulent history. In 1942, the bust was removed by the German occupiers to be melted down for the war effort. A new bust, modelled on a sculpture by Bolesław Syrewicz (1835–1899) located in Warsaw, was created in 1999 to mark the 150th anniversary of Chopin’s death. The general resemblance between the sculptures stems not only from a similar artistic style, but also from inspiration drawn from the bas-relief of Chopin by Antoine Bovy.
• Nohant-Vic
  More about the monument

Spain

• Valldemossa
  Unveiled in 1999, this monument by the Polish sculptor Zofia Wolska (b. 1934) depicts a bust of Chopin. It is situated in the monastery courtyard.
• Palma
  The monument to Fryderyk Chopin is situated in Palma, Majorca. The sculpture, depicting the composer’s head, stands on a plinth bearing an inscription in Spanish, near the square named after him.

Germany

• Munich
  To mark the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth, a monument to him by the Polish sculptor Józef Nowak (b. 1962) was unveiled in Poets’ Park. The monument was created thanks to the commitment and funding of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and Halina and Mirosław Pieńkowski.

Portugal

• Lisbon
  The bust of Frédéric Chopin in Lisbon is situated on Avenida da Liberdade. It is carved from black stone and set on a contrasting, light-coloured plinth. Like the version in Budapest, it is a modern cast of Syrewicz’s sculpture.

Russia

• Königsberg
  Sculpture park on Immanuel Kant Island, a sculpture by Yekaterina Belashova-Alekseeva (1906–1971), 1968 (another version of this sculpture was made in marble).
• Königsberg
  Monument to Frédéric Chopin, in the park at the junction of Komunalna Street and Stepan Razin Street, 2010, a gift from the Polish government.
• Moscow
  ‘Muzeon’ Art Park
  Bust of Fryderyk Chopin by Ilya Tenet (1927–1967), 1964, bronze.

Romania

• Bucharest
  Bust of Fryderyk Chopin by Lelia Zuaf in Herăstrău Park, A. Ostrop, 1956, bronze.

Slovenia

• Ljubljana
  In 2014, a bronze bust of Fryderyk Chopin was ceremonially unveiled at the entrance to the Chopin Passage, situated beneath Congress Square in Ljubljana. This monument, a tribute to the outstanding Polish composer, was donated to Slovenia by the Republic of Poland as part of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth. It was created by the Polish sculptor and long-standing head of the Department of Stone Sculpture Conservation at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Professor Adam Roman (1916–2013). He also created two other busts of Chopin, which are located in Tokyo and Kaliningrad. In memory of the piano genius, an international Chopin Piano Competition for the Golden Ring, aimed at young pianists, is held every year in Slovenia.

Hungary

• Gödöllő
  The monument to Fryderyk Chopin in Gödöllő, created by Ede Margó (1872–1946) in 1929, depicts Chopin at the piano flanked by allegorical figures of a woman and a man. It stands in front of the music school named after him.
• Budapest
  The Chopin monument in Tchaikovsky Park – a limestone sculpture from 1961 by János Konyorcsik (1926–2010), situated in a park dedicated to outstanding composers.
• Budapest
  The 2011 monument in Horváth-kert is situated in the Krisztinaváros district, where the Ede Margó Monument was originally intended to stand. It is a replica of the composer’s bust from 1899 by Bolesław Syrewicz, identical to the one situated in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.

United Kingdom

• Manchester
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument, unveiled in 2011 and created by Robert Sobociński (b. 1960), depicts the composer with a muse whose face is modelled on Jane Stirling. It is the largest Chopin monument outside Poland, commemorating his visit to Manchester. In 1848, fearing the turmoil of the revolution, Fryderyk Chopin left France and travelled to England and Scotland, where he sought to earn a living by giving lessons and performing in concerts. However, the composer’s final year was dominated by illness. As he recalls in one of his letters, during a concert in Manchester he even experienced hallucinations caused by physical exhaustion.

North America

Costa Rica

• San José
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument, in the form of a head on a dark stone plinth, funded by the Polish community and the Polish Embassy, highlights the presence of Polish culture in Central America.

Cuba

• Havana
  A sculpture designed by Adam Myjak (1947–2025). Fryderyk Chopin, seated on a bench, gazes to one side as if listening to his own music, whilst his hands – particularly the long fingers of his right hand – are outstretched in a gesture that seems to capture the moment of a melody’s birth, in statu nascendi. It is a gesture that invites reflection on the composer’s genius, captured in the moment of creation. Adam Myjak, the sculptor, is a professor of art and a long-serving rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and his monumental, dramatic works can be found all over the world. In this instance, the quiet, pensive Chopin in Havana appears to be an exception to Myjak’s expressive style, yet at the same time he blends harmoniously into the historical setting of the Plaza de San Francisco.

Mexico

• Guadalajara
  The monument to Fryderyk Chopin by Ludwika Nitschowa (1889–1989), dating from 1964, is situated in the university district of Guadalajara. It is made of bronze and stands 2.2 metres tall. It was unveiled in December 1964. There is also a second Chopin monument in Guadalajara, created by the same artist in 1973.

United States

• Buffalo
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument in Buffalo is situated at the southern end of Symphony Circle. It is a classical bust of the composer, mounted on a rectangular column with a wider base. The commemoration of Chopin in Buffalo is thanks to the efforts of the Chopin Singing Society. Created by the Polish-American artist Joseph Mazur (1897–1970), the bust was unveiled on 7 June 1925 in Humboldt Park. It was later moved to the lawn in front of Kleinhans Music Hall, opposite Symphony Circle.
• Cleveland
  In the Polish Cultural Garden in Cleveland, there is a bust of Fryderyk Chopin. The sculpture depicts a young Chopin in elegant attire, with a clearly defined face and a calm, self-assured gaze. The bust was placed within the garden as part of a collection of sculptures dedicated to outstanding figures of Polish culture and science.

South America

Argentina

• Buenos Aires
  In 1944, a monument to Fryderyk Chopin was unveiled in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. This monument was probably initiated by Polish emigrants who found refuge in South America during the Second World War. One such figure was Grzegorz Fitelberg (1879–1953), a Polish composer and conductor who lived in Buenos Aires from 1940 to 1941, where he worked as a conductor at the Teatro Colón before moving to the United States. The bust of Chopin is located in Parque Chacabuco on the corner of Avenida Asamblea and Emilio Mitre. The name ‘Chopin’ is engraved on the monument, and the sculpture itself depicts an elegant man in evening dress with a bow tie and neatly combed hair. However, as has been noted, the figure’s appearance could just as easily represent other composers, such as Schumann or Brahms, suggesting that the sculptor did not model it on any known portrait of Chopin. The condition of the monument has deteriorated in recent years, with graffiti covering the plinth and creeping up onto the sculpture. It is a symbol of Poland’s musical heritage in South America which, although in need of conservation, remains an important landmark for the local Polish community.

Brazil

• Rio de Janeiro
  A bronze statue on a granite plinth – a work by August Zamoyski (1893–1970) from 1944 – depicts Chopin by the sea, listening to the waves. It is situated in Praça General Tiburcio (on Praia Vermelha Bay). The dancer Jerzy Szabelewski (1910–1993) posed for the statue. The inscription on the plinth reads: ‘CHOPIN’.
• Porto Alegre
  In 1963, Fernando Corona created a monument to Fryderyk Chopin in Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The official unveiling of the monument took place on 15 November of that same year. Porto Alegre, the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, is situated in the southernmost part of Brazil. The sculpture depicts a portrait of Fryderyk Chopin, mounted on a simple, square granite column. The monument bears an inscription commemorating the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth: 1810–1960. Chopin is recognisable by his distinctive hairstyle and long hair, although the face of the sculpture is not based on any of the widely known portraits. The expression of sadness on the composer’s face in the sculpture reflects the melancholy typical of Chopin, which often appears in depictions of him.

Venezuela

• La Asunción
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument, situated on the main pedestrianised street of the capital of Margarita Island, highlights the universality of Chopin’s music and its influence on various cultures.

Asia

China

• Shanghai
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument in Shanghai is a bronze statue, cast from Polish copper in Gliwice according to a design by Lu Pin, and is intended to commemorate and promote Chopin’s work in China. The Chinese hold Chopin’s work in high regard and frequently take part in the International Piano Competition. This is the second monument in Shanghai dedicated to a foreigner, which testifies to its exceptional significance. The plaque on the monument is inscribed only in Polish and Chinese, which further emphasises its international character and significance in the context of Polish-Chinese relations.

Japan

• Hamamatsu
  In the Japanese city of Hamamatsu, known, amongst other things, for its musical instrument manufacturers and for its music competitions and festivals, there is a monument to Fryderyk Chopin. The monument is a gift from the capital city of Warsaw, commemorating an agreement on friendly cooperation and cultural exchange. The monument is a replica of the famous sculpture by Wacław Szymanowski, located in Warsaw’s Łazienki Park. The work donated to Hamamatsu was created in 1990 by Marian Konieczny (1930–2017).

South Korea

• Daegu
  In the city of Daegu in South Korea, in front of the Faculty of Music at Keimyung University, there is a monument to Fryderyk Chopin. Furthermore, a path running between cherry trees is named after him, and the institute itself operates under the name The Keimyung-Chopin Academy.
• Seoul
  The Chopin monument in Namsan Park depicts the composer at the piano. It is a symbol of Polish-Korean friendship and a venue for events promoting his music.

Mongolia

• Ulaanbaatar
  In 2023, a monument to Fryderyk Chopin was unveiled on Chopin Street in the Mongolian capital. The monument stands on the street which, two years earlier, had been named after the Polish composer.

Singapore

• Singapore
  A monument to Fryderyk Chopin in the Botanic Gardens. Unveiled in 2008. The Karol Badyna Monument commemorates the composer at a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a gift from the Polish community and a symbol of international recognition for Chopin.

Vietnam

• Bà Nà Hills
  Bà Nà Hills is a holiday resort founded by French colonists in 1919. It functions as an amusement park with numerous hotels and attractions. Among these, we find a bust of Fryderyk Chopin, commemorating the outstanding Polish composer. The sculptural portrait, which is not entirely true to life, has been placed on a plinth to which a plaque bearing an inscription has been affixed. The text, in Vietnamese and English, highlights the innovative spirit Chopin demonstrated in the ballads he composed.

Australia and Oceania

Australia

• Canberra
  The Fryderyk Chopin monument in the Park of Nations, unveiled in 2011 in the Australian capital, commemorates the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth and highlights his influence on classical music on the continent.

Commemorative plaques honouring Fryderyk Chopin around the world

Europe

Austria

• Vienna
  On Kohlmarkt 9, a pedestrianised shopping street with the Hofburg Palace at the far end, stands the house where Frédéric Chopin lived from 1830 to 1831. This was the third place in Vienna where the composer stayed. Initially, he lived at the ‘Zur Stadt London’ (London) inn and the ‘Zum Goldenen Lamm’ (The Golden Lamb), and subsequently in the house at Kohlmarkt 9. A plaque commemorating Chopin’s stay in the Austrian capital is located at this site.

Czech Republic

• Prague
  The plaque is situated on the site of the ‘Czarny Koń’ hotel in Prague, where Chopin stayed in 1829 and 1830. Created by Maria Durasová in 1961, it commemorates the composer’s visits to the Czech capital.

• Mariánské Lázně
  A plaque commemorating Chopin’s stay in Mariánské Lázně at the ‘Pod Bílým Labutím’ guesthouse (now the Chopin House), where the composer spent time in 1836. It is situated in a place that later became an important centre for commemorating him, organising annual Chopin festivals.
• Mariánské Lázně
  A plaque at the Chopin School in Mariánské Lázně, unveiled in 1978.
• Karlovy Vary
  A marble plaque with a bas-relief and an inscription commemorates Chopin’s stay in 1835. It is situated in the spa forest along the ‘Chopin Trail’. It was created on the initiative of Polish émigrés and was crafted by Antoni Popiel.

France

In Paris, plaques can be found at four of the nine places where Chopin lived:

• 27 Boulevard Poissonnière
  A plaque with an engraved inscription (letters filled with gold paint): FREDERIC CHOPIN / HABITA CETTE MAISON / 1831–1832 //.
• 16 Rue Pigalle
  A plaque with an engraved inscription: ‘Ici s’élevaient / les pavillons qu’habitaient / George SAND & Frédéric CHOPIN / de 1839 à 1842 //’.
• 9 Square d’Orléans
  Plaque with an engraved inscription: FREDERIC CHOPIN / LIVED IN THIS HOUSE / 1831–1832 //.
• 12 Place Vendôme
  A plaque with the following engraved inscription: ‘Frederic Francois Chopin / born in Zelazowa-Wola (Poland) / on 22 February 1810 / died in this house / on 17 October 1849’ //.

Spain

• Palma
  A plaque commemorating Chopin’s stay in Majorca, unveiled in 2010 in Palma, marks Chopin’s winter stay there with George Sand in 1838–1839. It is situated on Carrer de la Mar in Palma.
• Barcelona
  In Barcelona, on the façade of the Hotel Cuatro Naciones at La Rambla 40, there is a plaque unveiled in 2010 commemorating Frédéric Chopin’s stay there.

Germany

• Dresden
  A plaque commemorating Frédéric Chopin’s stay in Dresden.

United Kingdom

• London
  The venue where Chopin gave his final concert in 1848.

Painted portraits

• Eugène Delacroix
  Portrait of Frédéric Chopin
  1838–1839
  Oil on canvas
  46 × 38 cm
  Musée du Louvre, Paris

  One of the most famous portraits of Chopin, originally part of a larger composition depicting Frédéric Chopin and George Sand. The circumstances surrounding the painting’s creation are not entirely known. After Delacroix’s death, the canvas remained in his studio before passing to the Duttileux family. In the second half of the 19th century, the work was divided into two separate portraits – of Chopin and Sand. The portrait of Chopin depicts him in a three-quarter view, dressed in modest, dark clothing, against a dark background. Visible brushstrokes suggest that the painting remained unfinished. In 1907, the painting was donated to the Louvre by Antonin Marmontel, son of the pianist Antoine François Marmontel.

  The Louvre’s collection also includes a sketch by Delacroix, which shows that Chopin was originally seated on the right-hand side at the piano, whilst Sand was embroidering on the left-hand side, listening to him play.

• Andrew Carrick Gow
  ‘A Musical Story by Chopin’
  1879
  Oil on canvas
  69.8 x 90.2 cm (with frame: 104.5 x 125.3 x 13.3 cm)
  Tate Britain, London
  Catalogue number: N01529

  A painting depicting the young Frédéric Chopin surrounded by his peers. It was discovered in the Tate Britain storerooms in 2023, after more than 129 years out of public view. This is a unique work, as most known portraits of Chopin depict him as an adult. This rare childhood portrait offers a glimpse into a previously unknown aspect of the composer’s life. Painted after his death, the work is an artistic interpretation of his youth.

• Ary Scheffer
  Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  1847
  Oil on canvas
  Musée Carnavalet, Paris

  The portrait depicts Chopin in elegant attire, with a gentle, subtle expression. Scheffer, being a close friend of Chopin’s, captured his personality in a unique way. The portrait reflects both the composer’s physical features and his inner sensitivity.

Portraits at the Valldemossa Museum

Compiled by Bożena Schmid-Adamczyk

• Louis Gallait
  Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  1843
  Oil on canvas
  48.5 x 35.5 cm
  Signature: ‘Louis Gallait 1843’
  Provenance: Gand Bishop Collection
  Auctioned twice in 2019 and 2024.
• Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  Late 19th century
  Gouache on ivory
  6.5 x 5 cm
  Signature: “Böhringer”
  Collection: private
  Sold at auction in 2019
• Luigi Calamatta
  Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  c. 1840
  Pencil drawing
  29.2 cm x 28.4 cm
  Inventory number: I/12
• Albert Colfs
  Portrait of Frédéric Chopin
  1961
  Coloured pencil, pastels
  24 cm x 18.3 cm (in passe-partout)
  Inscription: A. Colfs d’après A. Graefle
  On the reverse of the frame, a dedication to Anne-Marie Boutroux de Ferrà Inventory number: I/24.
• Teofil Kwiatkowski
  Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  1849
  Pen, sepia, ink, pencil
  27.8 cm x 22 cm
  Reference: bearing an annotation from 1851 and the dedication ‘à Madame Dulong’
  Inventory number: I/4
• Teofil Kwiatkowski
  ‘Chopin on his deathbed’
  1849
  Pencil
  11.1 cm x 15 cm (drawing only), 27.8 cm x 32.3 cm (passe-partout)
  Reference: ‘Chopin on his deathbed / for Chopin’s friend Mr Pleyel’
  Inventory number: I/10
• Jean-Joseph-Bonaventure Laurens
  ‘Chopin playing the piano’
  Pencil
  8.8 cm × 7.3 cm (sketch only), 11.5 cm × 18.1 cm (entire work)
  Inventory number: I/8
  A copy of a drawing by Jan Suchodolski from around 1844, a page from the artist’s album.
• Ary Scheffer [?]
  Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  c. 1847
  Oil on canvas
  70.3 cm × 54.2 cm
  Inventory number: I/9
• Pierre Roche Vigneron
  Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  1833
  Lithograph
  19 cm x 26 cm
  Inventory number: Im/84
  Lithograph from the ‘Album des pianistes’ published by M. Schlesinger, produced in Gottfried Engelmann’s studio.
• Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin
  1840s
  Oil on canvas
  48.5 cm x 37.8 cm
  Inventory number: I/13

Drawings by Eugène Delacroix depicting Fryderyk Chopin

• A joint drawing of George Sand and Frédéric Chopin
  1840
  Pencil
  Louvre, Paris

  A drawing depicting the profiles of George Sand and Frédéric Chopin, produced by Delacroix during one of his meetings with Chopin and George Sand. The drawing, known from reproductions, comes from Sand’s album.

• Study of a bust of Frédéric Chopin
  1838
  Pencil with white chalk

  One of three sketches by Delacroix prepared as studies for the famous double portrait of Chopin and George Sand. It depicts a bust of the composer, executed in pencil with accents of white chalk.

• Study of a bust of Frédéric Chopin (replica?)
  1838
  Pencil

  A replica or alternative version of the previous sketch. In it, Delacroix captured the subtle features of Chopin’s face, emphasising the composer’s melancholic nature.

• Caricature of Fryderyk Chopin’s face
  1840
  Pencil
  Location: George Sand’s album

  A caricature of Chopin, drawn by Delacroix in Sand’s private album. It is a less formal and more intimate version of Delacroix’s artistic portrayal of Chopin.

• Sketch of Fryderyk Chopin in profile à la Dante
  1843–1846 (or 1849)
  Pencil
  Louvre, Paris

  A sketch depicting Fryderyk Chopin in profile, stylised as Dante, with a laurel wreath on his head. Delacroix saw Chopin as a genius, and this drawing is a touching tribute to his friend.

• Rebus ‘Cher Chopin’
  1843–1846 (or 1849)
  Pencil

  A drawing inscribed ‘Cher Chopin’, serving as a touching tribute to the artist. Delacroix produced this sketch as part of his artistic reflection on Chopin’s work, depicting him in artistic glory.

• ‘Portrait de Chopin en Dante’
  1763–1863
  Pencil
  29 cm × 24 cm
  Louvre, Paris

  A drawing depicting Frédéric Chopin in the style of Dante, executed in black pencil on paper. It is held in the Louvre’s collection (inventory no. RF20). Known from the catalogue of the 1949 exhibition in Brussels (no. 147).

Sculptures and medals

• Antoine Bovy
  Medallions of Frédéric Chopin
  1837 and 1847
  Bas-relief, medallion

  Antoine Bovy, a Swiss medallist, created two bas-relief portrait medals of Fryderyk Chopin. The first medallion was created in 1837, the second in 1847. These classical depictions of the composer capture his elegance and dignity.

• Jean-Pierre Dantan
  Bust of Chopin
  1841

  A full-length sculpture, with bronze and plaster casts (the bronze cast of the sculpture is in Warsaw, owned by the Fryderyk Chopin Society
  the Musée Carnavalet in Paris (plaster cast) ( see photograph of the sculpture ) , the bronze cast is located in Valldemossa (Museum Celda de Frédéric Chopin y George Sand).

• Ludwika Nitschowa
  Full-length sculpture
  1973
  Three-dimensional sculpture, bronze
  Height approximately 250 cm
  Royal North Academy of Music in Manchester

  A full-length sculpture of Fryderyk Chopin

• Portrait medallion of Fryderyk Chopin
  1899
  Medallion
  National Portrait Gallery, London
  Inventory number: NPG D7200

  A portrait medallion depicting Fryderyk Chopin, made in 1899. It is held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. It is one of many medallions commemorating outstanding figures in the world of culture.

• Bust of Frédéric Chopin
  William Hope’s Palace, Paris

  The bust of Fryderyk Chopin is situated in the drawing room of the William Hope Palace, where Chopin gave his famous New Year’s concert on the night of 29–30 December 1832. This sculpture commemorates one of the key events in the composer’s life, and its location lends it historical context.

• Richard Füredi
  ‘Polonaise’
  1866
  Vigadó Concert Hall, Budapest

  A sculpture commemorating the concerts of Chopin’s polonaises, which were performed by Franz Liszt (1811–1886). Erected in 1866 in the Vigadó Concert Hall in Budapest, the sculpture pays tribute to Chopin’s work and its influence on other outstanding musicians of that era.

• Wiktor Dament
  Sculpture of Fryderyk Chopin
  1895–1964
  Bronze, marble, terracotta
  44 x 32 x 28 cm
  Maison Communale, Saint-Gilles

  This realistic sculpture of Fryderyk Chopin, by Wiktor Dament, captures the composer’s introspection and nobility. Dament was a renowned sculptor and medallist who sought to capture the essence of historical figures in his art. Many of his works, including portraits of Chopin, are held in private collections, whilst this sculpture is housed at the Maison Communale in Saint-Gilles.

• Szigfrid Pongracz
  Bust of Frédéric Chopin
  Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Selected Chopin memorabilia in museum collections

The first ‘museum’ dedicated to Chopin was established by Jane Wilhelmina Stirling, who purchased most of his personal effects following his death. It was housed at Calder House. In 1859, following Jane’s death, the collection was transferred to Warsaw.

Musée de la Vie Romantique, Paris

The Musée de la Vie Romantique is a unique museum in Paris housing a collection of artefacts related to Romanticism, including those concerning Frédéric Chopin and George Sand. Visitors can admire a cast of the composer’s hand and a design for his monument, as well as exhibits relating to George Sand, his life partner.

Selected exhibits:

• A cast of Frédéric Chopin’s hand
• Design for Chopin’s monument
• Memorabilia relating to George Sand

Musée de la Musique, Paris

The Musée de la Musique in Paris is the place where you can admire the Pleyel piano on which Chopin played. The museum’s collection also includes a daguerreotype of him and a caricature depicting both the composer and George Sand.

Selected exhibits:

• The Pleyel piano on which Frédéric Chopin played
• A daguerreotype photograph
• A caricature depicting Chopin and George Sand

Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris

The Bibliothèque Nationale de France houses a valuable collection relating to Frédéric Chopin, including his musical manuscripts, first editions of his compositions and the composer’s death mask. These exhibits are an important source of knowledge about the life and work of one of the most outstanding composers of the Romantic period.

Selected exhibits:

• Frédéric Chopin’s musical manuscripts
• First editions of his works
• Chopin’s death mask

The Museum in Rapperswil

The museum houses Fryderyk Chopin’s death mask, a chiselled bronze cast made by Jean Baptiste Clésinger based on the original. Shortly after the composer’s death in 1849, Clésinger took two moulds of his face; the first was used to create a mask, which the artist kept for himself. The second mould was used to create a delicately retouched mask, which idealised the facial features distorted by death.

The Regional Museum in Teplice

The piano on which Chopin played on 25 August 1829 during a concert at the castle of the Clary-Aldringen princely family.

Museums and memorial halls

The Chopin Museum in Valldemossa

The museum is housed in a former cell of the Carthusian monastery, where Chopin and George Sand stayed during the winter of 1838–1839. The exhibition features memorabilia, including manuscripts, the piano Chopin used, and documents describing his stay on the island. It is an important place for lovers of his music and the history of Romantic literature.

Chopin’s Salon at the Polish Library in Paris

Among the items on display here are Chopin’s armchair, a medallion containing a lock of his hair, a Pleyel piano, a death mask and casts of his hands.

The Fryderyk Chopin Museum in Mariánské Lázně

It is housed in the former ‘Pod Białym Łabędziem’ guesthouse, where Chopin lived in 1836. The museum displays a rich collection of memorabilia, including the composer’s death mask and a cast of his hand. It is also the venue for annual Chopin festivals, which bring together artists and lovers of his music from all over the world.

Other forms of commemoration

Mural in Zagreb

The mural, painted in 2020 by Boris Bare, is located in the Dežmanov Prolaz passage. It was commissioned by the Polish Embassy in Zagreb. Boris Bare is a Croatian street artist and the creator of numerous murals in Croatia.

He said of his work:

As the location itself is situated in the charming Dežmanov Prolaz passage, I came up with the idea of making the background striped like old wallpaper, with the central part of the mural dominated by a framed painting depicting Chopin with a piano. The painting thus tells the story of his life. In the lower part, I have placed plants so that the entire wall gives the impression of a drawing room that blends perfectly into the street itself. (Source: Polonijna Agencja Informacyjna).

Area: 300 m².

Interactive bench in Tallinn

An interactive bench in Tallinn, installed in 2010 in Freedom Square, allows visitors to listen to excerpts from Chopin’s works and features engraved inscriptions in Polish and Estonian. It was created on the initiative of the Polish Embassy in Tallinn.

Interactive bench in Budapest

In 2023, a ‘smart bench’ was installed in Budapest, which not only measures temperature and air pollution but also allows visitors to listen to excerpts from works by Chopin and Liszt.

Places where Chopin lived in Paris

• 27 Boulevard Poissonnière
  Chopin lived on the 5th floor in a two-room flat from late September 1831 to June 1832. The view stretched from Montmartre to the Panthéon.
• 4 Hôtel Cité Bergère
  Chopin moved into a flat on the first floor of this small guesthouse in December 1832 and lived there until June 1833.
• 5 Rue Chaussée d’Antin (Hôtel d’Epinay, no longer in existence)
  Chopin lived here from June 1833 to September 1836. First with Dr Alexandre Hoffmann, then with Jan Matuszyński.
• 38 Rue Chaussée d’Antin
  Chopin lived there from September 1836 to September 1839 in a two-room flat, where he organised musical evenings.
• 5 Rue Tronchet
  After returning from Majorca and Nohant, Chopin lived on the first floor from October 1839 to November 1841.
• 16 Rue Pigalle
  Chopin occupied one of the pavilions rented by George Sand; they lived there from November 1841 until 1842, when they moved to the Square d’Orléans.
• 2 Rue de Chaillo (no longer exists)
  Chopin lived at this address for about two months (1849).
• 9 Square d’Orléans
  Chopin rented the ground floor of the house, where he lived from autumn 1842 until 1849, with a break for a stay in England in 1848.
• 74 Rue de Chaillot (no longer in existence)
  In June 1849, Chopin moved into a flat on the second floor at 74 Rue de Chaillot (on the site of the present-day Prince de Gallessie Hotel, 33 Avenue George V). The current course of Rue de Chaillot does not correspond to its mid-19th-century alignment and ends at number 40, whilst the former section of the street where Chopin lived is now called Rue Bauchart.
• 12 Place Vendôme
  Chopin’s final flat, where he moved in at the end of September 1849 with his sister Ludwika and where he died on 17 October 1849 at around 2 o’clock in the morning.

Chopin’s other Parisian ‘addresses’

• Hôtel Cromot-du-Bourg (First Pleyel Salons), 9 Rue Cadet
  It was here that Chopin gave his first public concert on 26 February 1832. This was also the venue for his final concert in Paris on 16 February 1848.
• The former Conservatoire, 2 Rue du Conservatoire
  The heart of Paris’s musical life, where Chopin gave several concerts.
• Salle Le Peletier (the former Opera House)
  The former Paris Opera House, where important cultural events took place, including Chopin’s concerts.
• Salons Pleyel, 22 Rue de Rochechouart
  One of the venues where Chopin performed regularly.
• Hôtel Lambert, 2 Rue Saint-Louis-en-l’Isle (or 1–3 Quai d’Anjou)
• The Washington Opera Hotel
  At the end of July 1832, the first banquet for Polish émigrés took place, attended by Chopin, amongst others.
• Église de la Madeleine, Place de la Madeleine
  The site of Frédéric Chopin’s funeral on 30 October 1849, attended by around 3,000 people.
• Hôtel Chopin, Passage Jouffroy
  The name was given in 1970, though it is one of the older hotels in Paris. According to an unconfirmed legend, he met Georges Sand here, and the passage was a route he is said to have frequently taken on his way to the Pleyel salon.