Aleksander ORŁOWSKI (1777-1832), Eastern Horseman

Aleksander ORŁOWSKI (1777-1832), Eastern Rider
oil, sheet
33 x 22.5 cm

Aleksander Orłowski (1777-1832) studied drawing and painting in the Warsaw studio of Jan Piotr Norblin. In addition, he was a pupil of Marcello Bacciarelli in the "painting room" at the Castle. He took part in the Kosciuszko Uprising, his works are an important documentation of this event. In later years he was the court draughtsman-battleman of Prince Constantine. In 1809 he was awarded the title of Academician of the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg for his painting "Bivouac of Cossacks." Since 1819 he was a member of the Scientific Society in Cracow. He was the first in Russia to start practicing lithography. He painted in pastels and oils. The subjects of his works are varied: battle scenes, eastern horsemen, genre scenes from village life, oriental types of Cherkesses and Kyrgyz, caricatures, portraits, heroized landscapes - all deal with things happening today. Elements of Rembrandt painting can be seen in the works.