''History of Civilization in Poland'' ( pl, Dzieje Cywilizacji w Polsce) is a cycle of twelve oil sketches on canvas and wood, created by the Polish nominal painter Jan Matejko in 1889 with accompanying commentaries. The originals are kept at the Museum of the

Royal Castle, Warsaw The Royal Castle in Warsaw ( pl, Zamek Królewski w Warszawie) is a state museum and a national historical monument, which formerly served as the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs. The personal offices of the king and the adm ...

History

Matejko created his series along with an accompanying commentary in part to fulfill a set of research requirements for his new academic title, the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

honoris causa, which he received from the Jagiellonian University.Wanda Małaszewska. "Matejko, Jan." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed May 28, 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T055919 Much of the imagery of the cycle has been inspired by the lectures of historian

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 hi ...

which Matejko might have attended around 1877–1878, or read in print afterward.''Dzieje Cywilizacji w Polsce''
the complete set of images with the original commentary by Matejko and modern commentary

The works in the series

The cycle consists of the following paintings:

References

{{Authority control 1888 paintings 1889 paintings Paintings by Jan Matejko Paintings in the collection of the Royal Castle, Warsaw