The Great Painters
Jan Matejko
- the most outstanding painter of Polish history
Jan Matejko (1838-1893)
SPIRITUAL RULER
CINEMATOGRAPHY OF THE IMAGE
UNIQUE STYLE
THE "DOUBLE MEANING" OF WORKS
THE MASTER OF EXPRESSIONS
Jan Matejko
1838
(24 June) Jan Alojzy Matejko, son of Franciszek Ksawery (a Czech who came to Poland around 1807) and Janina Karolina Rossberg (daughter of the Cracow saddler, who died when Jan was only 7 years old) were born in Cracow. The artist was the ninth of 11 children. They lived in two rooms, in a family tenement house on Floriańska Street.
1851
persuaded by his older son Franciszek, the father placed Jan in the School of Fine Arts. In order to have money for painting supplies, 14-year-old Jan was making "chałtury" (he painted signs, coloured photographs). It was not until 1857 that he could buy himself glasses and throw away the glass that he was drawing with his eye.
1852
at the first painting exhibition in Cracow he was delighted with Rodakowski's paintings and Michałowski
1858-1859
He continued to learn painting in Munich. Apart from studying history, he took up Matejko's preparatory studies in horse painting, reminiscent of his earlier ones, carried out by Piotr Michałowski
1861
He rented a studio on Krupnicza Street in Krakow and started selling his paintings. The studio was so cramped that larger paintings had to be rolled up and painted piece by piece.
1863
Friends and two brothers of Jan Matejko joined the January Uprising, he hesitated, but he couldn't use his weapon and saw badly. He helped the insurgents materially and brought weapons to the insurgent camp Langiewicz
1864
at the age of 26 he had an unprecedented success with the picture "Sermon of Complaint". The crowds were coming down to the exhibition to watch a painting that resounded with the patriotic atmosphere after the Uprising, whose causes of defeat everyone was looking for. Jan Matejko allocated the entrance income for orphans. That year he married Teodora Giebułtowska, who was his muse - almost all female characters in his paintings have her face.
1865
A trip to Paris, where the "Sermon of the Complaint" was presented as part of the Salon and won a gold medal. That year, the artist became a father
1867
"Rejtan" was shown in Paris and Jan Matejko received a gold medal of the first class at the Universal Exhibition
1869
Jan Matejko received honorary citizenship of Lviv and founded 2 scholarships: for a Pole and a Ruthenian (Ukrainian) to study art. After painting the "Lublin Union", he was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour in Paris.
1872
bought the house where he was born. That year, he and his wife traveled to Turkey
1873
his older brother Francis (a historian) died, who supported him materially and intellectually and had a great influence on the formation of the psyche of the future painter
1876
Jan Matejko bought a manor farm in Krzesławice, where he built a school that still exists today with his own funds. He was struggling with family problems: his mentally ill wife and children who did not want to learn. Despite financial problems, he was generous. Apart from scholarships, he also offered a series of masterpieces to the nation, whose commercial value, already then, was enormous
1877
triumphant journey through Warsaw, Malbork and Gdańsk to the vicinity of the Battle of Grunwald
1878
the success of the "Battle of Grunwald". Krakow offers him a scepter as a sign of reign in art. The artist travels to Italy
1879
Emperor Franz Joseph visits the artist's studio during his stay in Krakow and receives a gift of "Reunion near Vienna".
1882
The Kleparski Square was named Matejko Square (here the artist gave up a plot of land for free for the construction of the new building of the School of Fine Arts).
1889
he started working