Jan Chelminski, FOR THE HUNTING!, 1875

20.5 x 27.4cm - oil, board signed l.d.: Jan Chelminski 75 | Munchen

On the reverse, centrally, oval stamp of the warehouse of painting materials: Adrian Brugger | München | Theatineerstrasse No2; l.d. (opposite the composition) an illegible note in pencil; also, on the frame, a gilder's sticker (print): Fr. Groditzky | Vergolder | BERLIN | Oranienburger - Str. No. 7.



In 1873 Jan Chelminski went to study in Munich, where he succumbed to a fascination with the work of Maximilian Gierymski. This is clearly evident both in the presented On the Hunt! and in the numerous paintings from this period, inserted in our previous auctions (Hunting par force for a deer 1874, Ride 1875, or Galopem! 1876). The scene presented here follows Gierymski's model and is dressed in 18th century costume. It was such depictions of hunts and rides that brought the young artist popularity early in his career.

Jan Chelminski (Brzustow near Opoczno 1851 - New York 1925), a popular painter from the circle of "Polish Munich painters," began his education with Juliusz Kossak, and then studied at the Warsaw Drawing Class and in Munich - at the Academy under Alexander Strähuber and Alexander Wagner (1873-1875) and the private studios of Jozef Brandt (1875) and the battle painter Franz Adam (1876). After his studies he was already permanently abroad - in Munich, London (years 1882, 1888-1899), Paris (1899), traveled to St. Petersburg (1889) and New York (1884), where he later settled permanently around 1915. However, he did not break contacts with the country, and often sent his works to Warsaw exhibitions. His paintings enjoyed great success. He painted mainly military and battle scenes, most often from the times of the Duchy of Warsaw and the Napoleonic Wars, as well as genre paintings and hunting episodes. He was involved in book illustration; among other things, he illustrated a volume of hunting stories by Theodore Roosevelt. He was a collector of old weapons and an outstanding expert on soldier uniforms. Many of the artist's paintings are still abroad - in England, Germany or the United States. Few of them appear in antiquarian sales, constantly arousing keen interest among collectors.