Wojciech Kossak

Wojciech Horacy Kossak (Paris, France, 31 December 1856 – 29 July 1942, Kraków, Poland) was a noted Polish painter and member of the celebrated Kossak family of artists and writers. He was the son of painter Juliusz Kossak, and twin brother of freedom fighter Tadeusz Kossak, and the father of two highly talented literary daughters, Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska and Magdalena Samozwaniec and of a painter son, Jerzy Kossak.

Kossak's Piłsudski on Horseback, 1928,[1] National Museum, Warsaw—one of the most popular artistic portrayals of Piłsudski
Wojciech Kossak
Wojciech Kossak, self-portrait.
Born
Wojciech Horacy Kossak

(1856-12-31)31 December 1856
Paris, France
Died29 July 1942(1942-07-29) (aged 85)
Kraków, Poland
NationalityPolish
Known forPainting
Notable work
The Racławice Panorama
Panorama Berezyna
Olszynka Grochowska
Wyjazd na polowanie w Gödöllö
Krwawa niedziela w Petersburgu 22 stycznia 1905 r.

Life

Wojciech Horacy Kossak was born on New Year's Eve of 1856 just before midnight, while his twin brother, Tadeusz Kossak, just after, on 1 January 1857, in Paris. The family eventually left France.[2] His middle name was in honour of his godfather, French painter Horace Vernet. Kossak began his education upon his family's return to Poland. He went to middle school at Three Crosses Square in Warsaw and later attended high school, the Gimnazjum św. Anny, in Kraków. He simultaneously studied painting with his father Juliusz.[3]

Between 1871–1873, Wojciech studied at the School of Drawing and Painting - later the School of Fine Arts - under Władysław Łuszczkiewicz, followed by a stint until 1875, at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, with professors Aleksander Strähuber and Alexander Wagner.

Kossak's Olszynka Grochowska, ca 1931 National Museum, Warsaw

Last years

Kossak was a very hard-working and prolific painter. It is impossible to mention all of his paintings, and he painted until the end of his life and made plans for new ventures until the last moments. Paintings from this period include: Marriage of Poland with the Sea, Portrait of Edward Krasiński, Fantasy on the theme of Polish driving, Guarding the Polish sea, Portrait of Cardinal Hlond, Portrait of General Kazimierz Sosnkowski. His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics.[4]

Kossak spent the summer of 1939 in Jurata, from where he returned to Kraków in the last days of August, where they watched the invasion of Germans. The September defeat was a shock for Kossak, but he still believed in the Polish soldier: He wrote to a friend: "With the moment of our defeats and the disgrace of this poor Rydz, who was so immature in his role, I lost my heart not knowing that what was my beloved topic, not only ceased to be the most popular, but today the most expensive sursum corda has happened".

He did not stop painting during the occupation. Portraits and genre scenes were created, such as weddings or hunting, but also sketches for the panorama of Grochów. He refused to work for the Germans. He refused, among others painting the portrait of Hans Frank claiming the old age, despite the fact that the studio, where he talked to the German officer, was full of extravagant and completed paintings.

One of his last works is Portrait of Zofia Jachimecka, Equestrian Portrait of Tadeusz Chutkowski, Stefan Skrzyński, Tatar Jasyr, Kirasjer and girlfriend and Farys. On the day of his death - July 29, 1942 - he asked that paint be put on the palette, but he could not get up again. He did not realize that death was coming. In the evening, until the last moment, remaining conscious, he died surrounded by family.

Work

Wojciech Kossak's historical painting was different in style from that of his predecessor Jan Matejko. He belonged to a new generation of Polish battle-scene artists influenced by the work of his father Juliusz. However, like Matejko, he is known for depicting the history of Polish armed struggle and notable Polish battles of Central and Eastern Europe against foreign oppressors. Among his most famous paintings is The Racławice Panorama.

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See also

Notes and references
  1. "Pilsudski on Horseback". Gallery of Polish Painting Masterpieces. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  2. Olszanski, Kazimierz (1982). Wojciech Kossak. Zaklad Narodowy im. Ossolinskich. ISBN 83-04-01297-9.
  3. Olszański, Kazimierz (1982). Wojciech Kossak (Wyd. 3., popr. i uzup. ed.). Wrocław: Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich. ISBN 83-04-01297-9.
  4. "Wojciech Kossak". Olympedia. Retrieved 27 July 2020.


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