Description
Oil, plywood; 19 x 16 cm
Signed p.d.: Kaz. Pochwalski / 1922
Asking price 4000
Estimate 5000 - 6000
Kazimierz POCHWALSKI
1855 Krakow - 1940 Krakow
He came from a well-known, multi-generational Krakow family of painters. His first drawing lessons were given to him by his father Józef. He continued his painting studies in 1871-76 and 1878-79 at the Cracow School of Fine Arts under Jan Matejko. After receiving a scholarship, he supplemented his education abroad at the Munich Academy under A. Wagner and O. Seitz (1877-78), as well as in Vienna (1879) and Paris (1883-84). After his studies, he lived in Cracow until 1892, and then moved to Vienna. From 1894 to 1918 he worked as a professor at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. He traveled to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt. Despite the success his paintings enjoyed in Vienna, he permanently returned to Poland after Poland regained its independence and settled in his native Cracow. He painted genre scenes and portraits, which brought him fame and success. He portrayed, among others, on numerous occasions, Emperor Franz Joseph, as well as aristocracy, high officials and military officers from the imperial court circle He created a well-known image, befriended by the painter, of Henryk Sienkiewicz (in the MN in Krakow). During his frequent stays in the country, he painted portraits of Polish aristocracy and landed gentry as well as well-known Krakow personalities, rectors and university professors. His technical mastery and ability to accurately characterize won him recognition and success among his clients, and numerous awards and medals at exhibitions (including gold medals at exhibitions in Munich, Berlin, Vienna and Paris).