oil/board
46 x 55 cm
Signed p.d.: "TADE.STYKA."
Provenance: private collection in France
Original period frame
Tadeusz Styka
Born in 1889, to an artistic family. His father Jan was a painter who worked on historical, religious and battle themes and was co-author of the Panorama of Raclawice. In 1900, the whole family settled in Paris. Tadeusz's brother Adam also followed in his father's footsteps, working on oriental themes. At first they learned painting from their father. Starting in 1900, Tadeusz studied with Jean-Jacques Henner and Eugene Carriere. However, he never took up academic education, as his father was opposed to such a form of learning painting. Even at a very young age he was successful at exhibitions in Paris, where he had his own studio. He also enjoyed popularity in Poland, as well as Canada and the United States. He was known by the name Tade Styka. In 1929 he moved to the States, where he died in 1954.
The main subject of Tadeusz's work was portraits of famous people, and it is for these that he is best known. He painted aristocracy, famous people, beautiful women, mainly actresses. He often collaborated with his brother to paint genre and religious scenes. Landscapes are rare in his work, but nevertheless a good artistic workshop is evident in them. An important feature of the artist's work is warm browns, which were his favorite colors.
