Wojciech WEISS (1875-1950), Rest in a Calvary garden, 1913

1. rest
oil, canvas; 96 x 65 cm;
Signed l. d.: WW;
On the reverse, facsimile of the artist's signature WW and no. 0321.
2. study of a pear tree
pencil, paper; 31.5 x 22.5 cm;
Signed p. d.: WW;
on the reverse, landscape sketch with facsimile of signature WWeiss and no. 003187.
3. view from gazebo to pear tree
pencil, paper; 22.5 x 31.5 cm;
signed l. d.: WW;
On the reverse, oval stamp with an inscription around it: FROM THE COLLECTION OF WORKS BY WOJCIECH WEISS. HOUSE OF THE ARTIST with facsimile of the artist in the middle; below, no. 003189.
4. composition study with wife on a deckchair
pencil, paper; 31.5 x 22.5 cm;
signed l. d.: WW;
On the reverse, oval stamp with an inscription around it: FROM THE COLLECTION OF WORKS BY WOJCIECH WEISS. THE ARTIST'S HOUSE with facsimile of the artist in the middle, number 003205 below.
5. Irena Weiss reading a book
pencil, paper; 31.5 x 22.5 cm;
signed l. d.: WW;
On the reverse, oval stamp with an inscription around it: FROM THE COLLECTION OF WORKS BY WOJCIECH WEISS. THE ARTIST'S HOUSE with facsimile of the artist in the middle; number 002286 below.
6. collection of apples
pencil, paper; 31.5 x 22.5 cm;
lower left: no. 003209 and facsimile of artist's signature WWeiss;
On the back, sketch of a figure with baskets of apples, along with facsimile of artist's signature WWeiss and No. 003209.
The offered painting shows the artist's family in a Calvary orchard, during an afternoon siesta. Resting on a deckchair is his wife Irena, a painter who works under the pseudonym Aneri, with the artist's nephew Kaziu Florek squatting next to her. On the right you can see a fragment of the gazebo, which appears repeatedly in other paintings and watercolors. A female figure enters the gazebo, most likely one of Irena's sisters, who is just bringing afternoon tea into the wooden house.
Meanwhile, a strikingly shaped pear tree can be seen on the left. A ladder has been set up next to it for someone from the household to begin harvesting the fruit.
The idyllic scene of rest takes place in the afternoon, when shadow enters the garden, while the further parts of the landscape are full of light and saturated colors. It is worth mentioning that in the distance one can see the buildings of the town of Calvary, kept in sharp yellows. Above them, the signature of St. Joseph's Church, a temple standing in the market square, is visible against the purple of Mt. Zar. Above the hill, the pink parts of the sky turn to delicate blues. In the composition, painted at the end of summer, there is an unbroken harmony of family rest. One gets the impression that the silence is interrupted only by; ripe fruits falling to the ground, crickets chirping music and quiet voices of family chatter.
The creation of this highly atmospheric composition, rooted in the tradition of Arcadian myth, was preceded by numerous sketches. It is also worth noting that many elements from this painting appear in other works by Wojciech Weiss. One that comes to the fore is the finely curved silhouette of an old pear tree, which in other paintings is sprinkled with white flowers ("Morning" 1917, for example). Here it takes on modern, slightly cubic forms, based on collapsing planes of greenery. The characteristic form of a lime whitewashed gazebo, here thanks to the shadow falling on it maintained in subtle violets, is also present in the artist's other works as a favorite place for chatting, quiet reading or respite after work. It also appears in winter landscapes, submerged in the snowy powder covering an old orchard.
The offered painting reveals to us the private sphere of the artist's life with his family. It transports us to a world from 110 years ago. Together with the household members, we become participants in the afternoon relaxation, when time flowed lazily, in the scenery of the abundance of summer allowed us to quietly reflect on the perfection of nature.
In conclusion, it should be mentioned that work on the painting, was interrupted by a trip to Krakow, associated with the appointment of Wojciech Weiss as a full professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow (September 1913)