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Jan Alojzy Matejko (; also known as Jan Mateyko; 24 June 1838 – 1 November 1893) was a Polish painter, a leading 19th-century exponent of history painting, known for depicting nodal events from Polish history. His works include large scale oil paintings such as '' Rejtan'' (1866), ''the Union of Lublin'' (1869), '' the Astronomer Copernicus, or Conversations with God'' (1873), or ''the
Battle of Grunwald The Battle of Grunwald, Battle of Žalgiris or First Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respec ...
'' (1878). He was the author of numerous portraits, a gallery of Polish monarchs in book form, and
mural A mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage. Word mural in art The word ''mural'' is a Spanis ...
s in
St. Mary's Basilica, Kraków Saint Mary's Basilica ( pl, Kościół Mariacki) is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best example ...
. He is considered by many as the most celebrated Polish painter, and sometimes as the "national painter" of Poland. Matejko was among the notable people to receive an unsolicited letter from the German philosopher
Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (; or ; 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, prose poet, cultural critic, philologist, and composer whose work has exerted a profound influence on contemporary philosophy. He began his ...
, as the latter tipped, in January 1889, into his psychotic breakdown while in
Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...
. Matejko spent most of his life in
Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...
. His teachers at the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts included Wojciech Korneli Stattler and Władysław Łuszczkiewicz. Later, he became director of the institution, which in time was renamed the ''
Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków ( pl, Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Jana Matejki w Krakowie, usually abbreviated to ''ASP''), is a public institution of higher education located in the centre of Kraków, Poland. It is the oldest Pol ...
''. A number of his students became prominent artists in their own right, including
Maurycy Gottlieb Maurycy Gottlieb ; 21/28 February 1856 – 17 July 1879) was a Polish realist painter of the Romantic period. Considered one of the most talented students of Jan Matejko, Gottllieb died at the age of 23. Career Gottlieb was born in Drohobycz ( ...
, Jacek Malczewski, Józef Mehoffer and Stanisław Wyspiański. He is regarded as "the Father of Young Poland" Arts and Crafts movement in Poland.


Biography


Youth

Matejko was born on 24 June 1838, in the Free City of Kraków. His father,
Franciszek Ksawery Matejko Franciszek Ksawery Matejko ( cs, František Xaver Matějka) (1789 or 13 January 1793 in Roudnice – 26 October 1860 in Kraków) was a Czech musician, father of Polish painter Jan Matejko. He was probably the son of farmer Josef Matějka and ...
( cs, František Xaver Matějka) (born 1789 or 13 January 1793, died 26 October 1860), a Czech from the village of
Roudnice Roudnice is a municipality and village in Hradec Králové District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants. Etymology The name is derived from the red shades of color (in Czech ''rudá'') of the water in ...
, was a graduate of the Hradec Králové school who later became a tutor and music teacher. He first worked for the Wodzicki family in Kościelniki, Poland, then moved to
Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...
, where he married the half-German, half-Polish Joanna Karolina Rossberg (Rozberg). Jan was the ninth of eleven children. His mother died when he was very young and his older brother, Franciszek had a hand in the manner of his upbringing. He grew up in a kamienica building on Floriańska Street. After the death of his mother in 1845, Jan and his siblings were cared for by his maternal aunt, Anna Zamojska. At a young age he witnessed the Kraków revolution of 1846 and the 1848
siege of Kraków The siege of Kraków was one of the battles during the Swedish invasion of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Second Northern War / ''Deluge''). It started on 25 September 1655 and ended on 13 October 1655. Capitulation treatment was signed 4 ...
by the Austrians, two events which put an end to the Free City of Kraków. Two of his older brothers served in both armed conflicts, under General Józef Bem. One died and the other was forced into exile. Matejko attended St. Anne's High School, but he dropped out in 1851 because of poor grades. Matejko showed an early artistic talent, but had great difficulty with other academic subjects. He never fully mastered a foreign language. Despite that, and because of his exceptional skill, at the age of fourteen he entered the School of Fine Arts in Kraków, where he was a contemporary of
Artur Grottger Artur Grottger (11 November 1837 – 13 December 1867) was a Polish Romantic painter and graphic artist, one of the most prominent artists of the mid 19th century under the foreign partitions of Poland, despite a life cut short by incurable ill ...
from 1852 to 1858. His teachers included Wojciech Korneli Stattler and Władysław Łuszczkiewicz. He opted for historical painting as his specialism, and finished his first major work, ''The Shuyski Tsars before Zygmunt III'' (''Carowie Szujscy przed Zygmuntem III''), in 1853 (he would return to this theme a year before his death, in 1892. oogle Books does not display page number for this book/ref> During this time, he began exhibiting historical paintings at the
Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts The Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts ( pl, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie, TPSP) is a social group of artists, artisans and their supporters founded in Kraków in 1854, under the Austrian Partition of Poland. Today, the ...
from 1855.Bochnak (1975), p. 185 His graduation project in 1858 was '' Sigismund I the Old ennobles professors of the
Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
'' (''Zygmunt I nadaje szlachectwo profesorom Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego'') and proved to be seminal. After graduation in 1859, Matejko received a scholarship to study with
Hermann Anschütz Hermann Anschütz (12 October 1802 – 30 August 1880) was a German painter and professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. He is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. Anschütz was born in Koblenz. His father J ...
at the
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (german: Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, also known as Munich Academy) is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany. It is located in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich, in Bavari ...
. The following year he received a further scholarship to study at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, but after only a few days and a major quarrel with
Christian Ruben Christoph Christian Ruben (November 30, 1805 – July 9, 1875) was a German painter. Born in Trier, Ruben studied in Düsseldorf under Peter von Cornelius from 1823, and in 1826 settled in Munich, where he worked on the designs for the new s ...
, Matejko returned to Kraków. He set up a studio at his family home in Floriańska Street. It took years before he met with commercial success. He struggled as the proverbial "starving artist", who finally celebrated when he managed to sell the ''Shuyski Tsars...'' canvas for five florins. In 1860, against a background of cultural erosion in partitioned Poland Matejko published an illustrated album, ''Clothing in Poland'' (''Ubiory w Polsce''), a project reflecting his intense interest in the historical record of his nation and his desire to promote it among Polish people and incidentally stir their patriotism. His financial situation improved when he sold two paintings, ''The assassination of Wapowski during the coronation of Henri de Valois'' (''Zabicie Wapowskiego w czasie koronacji Henryka Walezego'', 1861) and '' Jan Kochanowski over the body of his daughter Urszulka'' (''Jan Kochanowski nad zwłokami Urszulki'', 1862), which settled his debts. 1862 saw the completion of his ''
Stańczyk Stańczyk (c. 1480–1560) () was a Polish court jester, the most famous in Polish history. He was employed by three Polish kings: Alexander, Sigismund the Old and Sigismund Augustus. Name, identity and historicity Scarcity of sources ...
'', initially received without much acclaim, but in due course becoming one of Matejko's best known works. It marks a manifest departure in Matejko's art, from mere illustrator of history to commentator upon its moral content. During the January Uprising of 1863, in which he did not directly take part on account of his poor health, Matejko supported it financially, donating most of his savings to the cause, and personally transporting arms to an insurgents' camp.Bochnak (1975), p. 186 Subsequently, his '' Skarga's Sermon'' (''Kazanie Skargi''), May 1864, was exhibited in the gallery of the
Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts The Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts ( pl, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie, TPSP) is a social group of artists, artisans and their supporters founded in Kraków in 1854, under the Austrian Partition of Poland. Today, the ...
, which gained him much publicity. On 5 November that same year, he was elected member of the ''Kraków Scientific Society'' (''Towarzystwo Naukowe Krakowskie'') in recognition for his contributions to depicting great national historical themes. On 21 November he married Teodora Giebułtowska, with whom he went on to have five children: Beata,
Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer *Helena, mother of Constantine I Places Greece * Helena (island) Guyana * H ...
, Tadeusz, Jerzy and Regina. His daughter, Helena, also an artist, later helped
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
victims and was awarded the
Cross of Independence Cross of Independence ( pl, Krzyż Niepodległości) was second highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland, and was released in three cla ...
by
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
Stanisław Wojciechowski.


Rise to fame

After 1865 Matejko's international recognition grew. His ''Skarga's Sermon'' was awarded a gold medal at the 1865 Paris Salon, prompting Count to buy it for 10,000 florins. In 1867, his painting '' Rejtan'' was awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris and was acquired by Emperor
Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until ...
for 50,000 franks. His next major painting was the '' Union of Lublin'' (''Unia Lubelska''), created during 1867-1869. Acclaimed in Paris, it won Matejko the Cross of the Légion d'honneur.Bochnak (1975), p. 187 and was purchased by the Sejm of Galicia. It was followed by '' Stefan Batory at Pskov'' (''Stefan Batory pod Pskowem''), finished in 1871. In 1872, he visited
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and upon his return to Kraków finished ''The Astronomer Copernicus, or Conversations with God'' (''Astronom Kopernik, czyli rozmowa z Bogiem''), which was acquired by the
Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
. From the 1870s onwards he was aided by a secretary, Marian Gorzkowski, who became his personal assistant, his closest friend, a model for a number of his paintings, and the author of a memoir about Matejko. In 1872, during an exhibition in
Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
he was offered the directorship of the Prague Academy of Fine Arts, quickly followed by a similar offer from the Kraków School of Fine Arts. He accepted the Kraków position, and was for many years its principal ( rector). In 1874, he finished '' Zawieszenie dzwonu Zygmunta'' (''The Hanging of the Sigismund bell''). In 1878, he produced another masterpiece, ''The
Battle of Grunwald The Battle of Grunwald, Battle of Žalgiris or First Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respec ...
''.Bochnak (1975), p. 188 That year he received an "honorary grand gold" medal in Paris, while Kraków city council presented him with a ceremonial scepter, as a symbol of his "royal status in fine art". In 1879 came his ''Rok 1863 - Polonia'' (''The Year 1863 - Polonia''), his depiction of the January Uprising. Begun in 1864 as the Uprising was waning, he abandoned the canvas for a number of years, perhaps due to the loss of several close friends and family members in the conflict. It languished unfinished until prince
Władysław Czartoryski Prince Władysław (Ladislaus) Czartoryski (3 July 1828 – 23 June 1894) was a Polish noble, political activist in exile, collector of art, and founder of the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków. Life Son of Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski and Pr ...
became interested in acquiring it. To this day it is considered unfinished. 1880-1882 were taken up with another large work, ''The Prussian Tribute'' (''Hołd Pruski'') which Matejko gifted to "the Polish nation". It earned him the
honorary citizenship Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a city or other government on a foreign or native individual whom it considers to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. The honour usually is symbolic and does not confer an ...
of Kraków. One of the city's squares was renamed Matejko Square. In 1883 he finished ''
Jan Sobieski John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility, Sobie ...
at
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'' (''Jan Sobieski pod Wiedniem'') which came to be presented to
Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII ( it, Leone XIII; born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903) was the head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 to his death in July 1903. Living until the age of 93, he was the second-ol ...
as a "gift of the Polish nation". Being a member of the delegation delivering the canvas to Rome, Matejko was awarded the Knight Commander with Star of the Order of Pius IX.Bochnak (1975), p. 189 The painting is on permanent exhibition in the ''Sobieski Room'' at the
Vatican Museums The Vatican Museums ( it, Musei Vaticani; la, Musea Vaticana) are the public museums of the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of ...
. Around that time he also became vocal on a number of political issues, publishing letters on topics such as Polish-Russian relations. He was also very engaged in efforts to protect and reconstruct historical monuments in Kraków. In 1886, he finished a painting relating to French rather than Polish history, ''The Virgin of Orléans'', a portrayal of
Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= �an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronat ...
. In 1887 Matejko received an
Honorary Doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
from the
Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
, and recognition from the Austrian Society, ''Litteris et Artibus''. In 1888 he completed ''The Battle of Racławice'' (''Bitwa pod Racławicami''). In 1888-1899, to justify his new academic title, he published a group of twelve drawings with accompanying commentary, '' The History of civilization in Poland'' (''Dzieje Cywilizacji w Polsce''). Between 1890 and 1892, he published a series of works on paper, portraying all the
monarchs of Poland A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power ...
(''Poczet królów i książąt polskich'' - ''The kings and princes of Poland'', including queens), whose popularity turned them into the canon portrayals of their subjects. 1891 marked his '' Constitution of the 3 May'' (''Konstytucja 3 Maja''). He went on to compose another large scale work, ''The Oaths of Jan Kazimierz'' (''Śluby Jana Kazimierza''), but death intervened. In 1892, a year before his death, he completed his ''Self-portrait'' (''Autoportret'').


Portraits and other work

In addition to the history paintings Matejko was a prolific portraitist. His subjects included Jagiellonian University rectors
Józef Szujski Józef Szujski ( Tarnow, 16 June 1835 – Cracow, 7 February 1883) was a Polish politician, historian, poet and professor of the Jagiellonian University. Life He studied at Tarnow, then at Cracow (1854) and at Vienna (1858-9). He began his ...
and
Stanisław Tarnowski Count Stanisław Tarnowski (7 November 1837 – 31 December 1917) was a Polish nobleman (''szlachcic''), historian, literary critic and publicist. Life He was born on 7 November 1837 and hailed from an aristocratic family. His father was Jan ...
, and numerous portraits of family and friends, including ''Wife in her wedding dress'' ("Żona w sukni ślubnej") (1865, destroyed by his wife during a quarrel and recreated in 1879) and a self-portrait (1892). Altogether Matejko authored 320
oil paintings Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder. It has been the most common technique for artistic painting on wood panel or canvas for several centuries, spreading from Europe to the rest of ...
and several thousand drawings and watercolours. He also designed the monumental
polychrome Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery or sculpture in multiple colors. Ancient Egypt Colossal statu ...
murals for the Brick Gothic
St. Mary's Basilica, Kraków Saint Mary's Basilica ( pl, Kościół Mariacki) is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best example ...
(1889–1891), which in 1978 became a
UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
alongside the Historic Centre of Kraków.


Death

Matejko suffered from a peptic ulcer, and died in Kraków on 1 November of internal bleeding. His funeral on 5 November drew large crowds, and his death was newsworthy in at least thirty two European newspapers. He was buried in Kraków's Rakowicki Cemetery.Bochnak (1975), p. 190


Significance, style and themes

He is counted among the most significant of
Polish painters Note: Names that cannot be confirmed in Wikipedia database nor through given sources are subject to removal. If you would like to add a new name please consider writing about the artist first. ''This is an alphabetical listing of Polish painters ...
, and considered by many as "Poland's greatest history painter" or as "a cult figure for the nation at large... lreadyby the time of his death.".
Wilhelm von Kaulbach Wilhelm von Kaulbach (15 October 18057 April 1874) was a German painter, noted mainly as a muralist, but also as a book illustrator. His murals decorate buildings in Munich. He is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. Biography ...
and his "historical symbolism" style had a profound influence on Matejko. This aimed not so much at an exact representation of past events, but gave the artist freedom to interpret and opened the possibility to blend historical data within a chosen perspective. Matejko's technique in the Neoclassical genre has been praised for its "luminosity, detail and imagination". (PDF; 261 kB) He succeeded in propagating Polish history, and fostering the memory of an erstwhile historic state lost to the world, while his country remained carved up between three civilised European powers which afforded its Polish natives no prospect of political self-determination. His works, disseminated through thousands of reproductions, have become standard illustrations of the many key events in Polish history. His 1860 illustrated album, ''Ubiory w Polsce'' (Costume in Poland), is seen as a valuable historical reference.


Criticism and controversy

Critics of his work have pointed to his use of traditional, outdated or bombastic painting style, discrediting him for "antiquarian realism" and "theatrical effects". At exhibitions abroad, the nuanced historical context of his works was often lost on foreign audiences. Occasionally his paintings would cause controversy. For example, ''Rejtan'' offended a number of prominent members of the Polish nobility, who saw the painting as an indictment of their entire social class. His paintings were subject to censorship in the
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War ...
.
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
planned to destroy both ''The Battle of Grunwald'' and ''The Prussian Homage'', which the authorities saw as an offence against the German view of history. They formed part of the very many Polish paintings and art which the Germans planned to destroy in their war on Polish culture, but the Polish resistance successfully hid both.


Awards

* Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur, 1870 for his '' Union of Lublin'' 1869 * Médaille d'or at the
Salon de Paris The Salon (french: Salon), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial art ...
in 1867 for '' Rejtan * Kunst-medaille 1873, Vienna * Membre de l' Académie des Beaux-Arts (1873) * Médaille d'honneur at the Exposition Universelle (1878) * Commander's Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph * Commander's Cross of the
Order of the Iron Crown The Order of the Iron Crown ( it, link=no, Ordine della Corona Ferrea) was an order of merit that was established on 5 June 1805 in the Kingdom of Italy by Napoleon Bonaparte under his title of Napoleon I, King of Italy. The order took its name ...
* Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Pius IX * Gold Medal of the Munich Academy of Art * Papal Gold Medal of Leo XIII * Medal "Pro litteris et artibus", Vienna * Odznaka Honorowa za Dzieła Sztuki i Umiejętności, Poland (1887) *
Honorary citizenship Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a city or other government on a foreign or native individual whom it considers to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. The honour usually is symbolic and does not confer an ...
of the cities of
Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...
, Lwów, Przemyśl, Ivano-Frankivsk, Stryj and Brzezany * Doctor honoris causa of the
Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...
(1887) * Member of the
Institut de France The (; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the Académie Française. It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institut ...
(1874), of the Berlin Academy of Arts (1874), of the Accademia Raffaello, Urbino (1878) and of the Wiener Kunstlergenossenschaft (1888).


Legacy

Matejko's aim was to focus on major themes in Polish history using historical sources to paint events in minute historical detail. His earliest paintings are purely historical depictions without didactic content. The later works, starting with ''
Stańczyk Stańczyk (c. 1480–1560) () was a Polish court jester, the most famous in Polish history. He was employed by three Polish kings: Alexander, Sigismund the Old and Sigismund Augustus. Name, identity and historicity Scarcity of sources ...
'' (1862), are intended to inspire the viewer with a patriotic message. ''Stańczyk'' focuses on the court jester, portrayed as a symbol of his country's conscience, sitting in a chair, against the background of a party - a lonely figure reflecting on war, ignored by the joyful crowd.Wanda Małaszewska. "Matejko, Jan." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed 28 May 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T055919 His paintings are on display in numerous Polish museums, including: the National Museum in Warsaw,
National Museum in Kraków National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ...
, National Museum in Poznań and
National Museum in Wrocław National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...
. The National Museum, Kraków has a building entirely dedicated to Matejko - ''The Jan Matejko House'' (''Dom Jana Matejki''), occupying his former studio and family home in Floriańska Street and opened in 1898. Another museum dedicated to Matejko, is the '' Jan Matejko Manor House'' (Dworek Jana Matejki w Krzesławicach), in the village of Krzesławice, where Matejko had bought a small estate in 1865.Bochnak (1975), p. 191


As teacher and influencer

Over 80 painters were Matejko's students, many influenced during his tenure as director of the ''Kraków School of Fine Arts'', and are called members of the "Matejko School". Some went on to become members of the brief flowering of the Young Poland (''Młoda Polska'') movement, which encompassed literature, music, theatre as well as visual arts and was dissipated by
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
. Matejko has been dubbed "Father of Young Poland". Prominent among his students were: *
Maurycy Gottlieb Maurycy Gottlieb ; 21/28 February 1856 – 17 July 1879) was a Polish realist painter of the Romantic period. Considered one of the most talented students of Jan Matejko, Gottllieb died at the age of 23. Career Gottlieb was born in Drohobycz ( ...
* Ephraim Moses Lilien * Jacek Malczewski * Helena Matejko, Matejko's daughter * Józef Mehoffer * Jozef Pankiewicz * Antoni Piotrowski * Witold Pruszkowski * Jan Styka *
Włodzimierz Tetmajer Włodzimierz Tetmajer (December 31, 1861 in Harklowa – December 26, 1923 in Kraków) was a Polish painter with works in collections of the Warsaw National Museum and Kraków. Biography Włodzimierz Tetmajer was born in Harklowa near Krako ...
* Józef Unierzyski, Matejko's son-in-law * Leon Wyczółkowski * Stanisław Wyspiański File:Treny normal.jpg, Jan Kochanowski over his dead daughter's body, 1862 File:Samuel Zborowski śmierć.jpg, Samuel Zborowski on his way to his execution File:Lokietek.jpg, Wladyslaw I Lokietek from the Gallery of Polish Monarchs File:Konstytucja 3 Maja Sejm Czteroletni Komisja edukacyjna Rozbior.jpg, ''The Constitution of May 3. Four-Year Sejm. Educational Commission Partition. A.D. 1795'' Royal Castle File:Nikolaus Kopernikus 2.jpg, '' Astronomer Copernicus, or Conversations with God'', 1873. In the background: Frombork Cathedral File:Bona (?).jpg, pen and ink drawing possibly of Bona Sforza, 1861 File:Jan Matejko - Ociemniały Wit Stwosz z wnuczką.jpg, ''Blind Veit Stoss with granddaughter'' (1865), National Museum in Warsaw


Selected work

The following is a selected list of Matejko's works, in chronological order.


See also

*
Culture of Kraków Kraków is considered by many to be the cultural capital of Poland. It was named the European Capital of Culture by the European Union for the year 2000. The city has some of the best museums in the country and several famous theaters. It became ...
* List of Polish painters


Notes


References


Bibliography

* *
JSTOR


External links


Works by Jan Matejko
chambroch.com

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20061117081555/http://www.wawel.net/malarstwo/matejko.htm Matejko gallery wawel.net
Matejko gallery
malarze.com
Jan Matejko
culture.pl
"Clothing and Costumes..." From the Collection of Jan Matejko

"Artists from the School of Jan Matejko"

www.Jan-Matejko.org
A website dedicated to Matejko {{DEFAULTSORT:Matejko, Jan 1838 births 1893 deaths 19th-century Polish male artists 19th-century painters of historical subjects 19th-century Polish painters 19th-century war artists Academic art Artists from Kraków Burials at Rakowicki Cemetery Deaths from peritonitis Equine artists History painters Jagiellonian University alumni Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts alumni Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts faculty Jan Members of the Académie des beaux-arts Military art Polish Austro-Hungarians Polish male non-fiction writers Polish illustrators Polish male painters Polish people of Czech descent Polish Roman Catholics Polish war artists Portrait painters Recipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art Recipients of the Legion of Honour War artists