The Great Painters
Aleksander Gierymski
- priest of light
Aleksander Gierymski (1850-1901)
His paintings have become a symbol of the struggle for quality in Polish art and purely artistic criteria for its evaluation. He left delightful light studies and the most beautiful views of 19th century Warsaw - almost a photo reportage from the streets of Warsaw. Thanks to both Gierymski brothers, Polish painting became involved in the artistic problems of European art. The shadow of his older brother's fame was a tragic figure until his death, eternally dissatisfied with himself.
EMINENT REPRESENTATIVE OF REALISM
PAINTER OF ARCHITECTURE
GREAT COLORIST AND LUMINIST
REALISTIC, "REPORTAGE" SCENES FROM LIFE
LANDSCAPIST
PICTURES LIKE PHOTOS
Aleksander Gierymski
1850
(30 January) Aleksander Gierymski, son of Józef (administrator of the Ujazdowski Hospital in Warsaw) and Julia née Kielichowska was born in Warsaw. Aleksander was the younger brother of Maximilian Gierymski, also a painter.
1867
began his education in the Warsaw Drawing Class
1868
He went to study at the Munich Academy in May, thanks to his brother's position Maximilian - Aleksander Gierymski was admitted to the Academy without an exam. Unlike his brother, he studied painting for a long time - almost 6 years
1872
graduated from the Academy with an award for the painting "Merchant of Venice"
1873
he lived with his seriously ill brother in Rome, continuing to care for him in his illness
1875
Aleksander Gierymski met Helena Modrzejewska and increased the group of admirers who admired her. He attended concerts held at her home, admired her at the theatre, repeatedly drew her graceful figure, typical gestures and poses - later he used these sketches in the painting "Italian siesta". The youthful affection for a 10 years older muse, experiencing moments of the greatest fame, and also already married, has no future. Aleksander Gierymski, like his brother Maximilian, did not start a family.
1879
returned to Warsaw, the "Warsaw period" in the work of Aleksander Gierymski began then
1885
by "Wanderer" turned out to be "Album by Max and Aleksander Gierymski"
1888
Aleksander Gierymski left for Munich and Paris
1893
returned to Poland and painted in Bronowice
1895
he went to Munich again
1897-1899
He travelled to Italy (Venice, Palermo, Siena), stayed in Paris and returned to Rome.
1899-1901
He spent the last period of his life in Italy. Italian landscapes, sunny urban landscapes and building interiors, painted with pedantic accuracy, come from these years. His constant pursuit of perfection became his obsession and anguish. He was struggling with mental depression. The manic trifle visible in some canvases was one of the manifestations of growing neurasthenia.
1901
Nervous disorder finally led to exhaustion - Aleksander Gierymski died on 8 March in a psychiatric hospital in Rome. He was buried in the Roman cemetery of Campo Verano.
Interesting facts:
Medal
In his work on "Game of Mora" Aleksander Gierymski used photographs of posed models. The painting was awarded a medal at the Universal Exhibition in Philadelphia.
Arbour
The victim of the painter's fervor was the mythical "Arbour", painted for 5 years, which started in Rome, cut into pieces and reconstructed in a smaller, less successful version. "Gierymski told us that he had been painting for so long, repainted so many times that finally he couldn't get close to the painting from which there were monstrous icicles of paint, stalagmites, forming from the surface of the painting a kind of plastic map of the mountain chain" - Stanisław Witkiewicz
Sand
When Aleksander Gierymski started to paint "Piaskarzy" he borrowed from Podkowiński and Pankiewicz a studio with an upper light and he put piles of sand on the floor there... needed for studies in nature.
About the art of Alexander Gierymski:
All the work of Aleksander Gierymski will be a testimony to the pursuit of the impossible: combining the truth of art with the truth of reality. He has worked on each painting for a very long time, striving for the absolute truth of vision. The changeability of light, but also the changeability of moods, made him repeatedly repaint his canvases, covering them with new layers of paint.
– Eligiusz Niewiadomski
W niektórych warszawskich obrazach, jak np. „Piaskarze” przeważa skłonność artysty do drobiazgowego, niemal fotograficznego realizmu, pedanteria wykończenia. Jednak największe wrażenie w obrazie robi nie reporterska precyzja, lecz cienie żagli stojących przy moście, refleksy światła i chmury odbijające się w stalowej, drżącej tafli wody.
The universally gifted and readied brother was an oracle for Aleksander Gierymski. He was impressed by his insurgent legend, but also by his social familiarity, elegance and maturity. He tried to imitate him, although from the very beginning one could see the difference in temperaments and in art - a different perception of form. If in painting, Aleksander Gierymski quickly freed himself from his brother's influence, he certainly inherited his painting worldview, artistic honesty and intransigence.
He repeatedly painted nocturnes, which gave him the opportunity to study difficult issues related to artificial lighting. They are characterised by the contrast between the smooth surface of dark canvas and the relief convexity of lights formed from thick lumps of white paint.
Maximilian and Alexander Gierymski in the Museums:
Cracow: National Museum - State Art Collection at Wawel Castle - Gallery of Polish Art of the 19th century in Sukiennice. You can admire there, among others:
- „Fontanna, studium do obrazu „W altanie”” namalowany w 1876-1880
- „Powiśle” namalowany w 1883
- „Paź florencki” namalowany w 1884
- „Święto trąbek III” namalowany w 1890
- „Wieczór nad Sekwaną” namalowany w 1892
- „Pinie przy Villa Borghese w Rzymie” namalowany w 1900
Warsaw: National Museum - Polish Army Museum. You can admire there, among others..:
- „Gra w Mora” namalowany w 1874
- „Studium do obrazu „W altanie”” namalowany ok. 1876
- „Sjesta włoska” namalowany ok. 1876-1880
- „Żydówka z pomarańczami” namalowany w 1881
- „W altanie” namalowany w 1882
- „Święto trąbek I” namalowany w 1884
- „Piaskarze” namalowany w 1887
- „Plac Wittelsbachów w Monachium w nocy” namalowany w 1890
- „Opera Paryska w nocy” namalowany w 1891
- „Trumna chłopska” namalowany w latach 1894-1895
- „Fragment Rotenburga” namalowany w latach 1896-1897
- „Wnętrze bazyliki św. Marka w Wenecji” namalowany w 1899
- „Piazza del Popolo w Rzymie” namalowany w latach 1900-1901
- „Morze” namalowany w 1901
Czech Republic:
- Liberec: Oblstni Galerie
- Praga: Pamtnik Nrodniho Pisemnictvi
Germany:
- Schweinfurt: Sammlung Georg Schfer
Russia:
- Kaliningrad: Muzeum Miejskie
Ukraine:
- Lwów – Lwowska Galeria Obrazów
Other Polish cities:
- Katowice: Silesian Museum. You can admire there, among others..:
- „Żydówka z cytrynami” namalowany w 1881
- Kielce: National Museum. You can admire there, among others..:
- „Katedra w Amalfi” namalowany w latach 1897-1898
- Łódź: Muzeum Sztuki
- „Brama na Starym Mieście” namalowany w 1883
- Poznań: Muzeum Narodowe
- „Luwr w nocy” namalowany w 1892
- Wrocław: National Museum. You can admire there, among others..:
- „Chłopiec niosący snop” namalowany w 1895
- Bytom: Muzeum Górnośląskie
- Lublin: Muzeum Okręgowe
- Radom: Muzeum Okręgowe
- Słupsk: Muzeum Pomorza Środkowego
- Toruń: Muzeum Okręgowe
Aleksander Gierymski (1850-1901)
- EMINENT REPRESENTATIVE OF REALISM 100%
- GREAT COLORIST AND LUMINIST 100%
- LANDSCAPIST 95%
- PAINTER OF ARCHITECTURE 100%
- PICTURES LIKE PHOTOS 100%
- REALISTIC, "REPORTAGE" SCENES FROM LIFE 100%
