Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski, WÓDZ POLSKI W STROJU BOJOWYM, 1868

72.0 x 62.0 cm - oil, canvas signed p.d.: Walery Eljasz 1868



The painting was painted according to a work by Aleksander Orlovsky, reproduced in "Tygodnik Ilustrowanym" (5/17, March 1860, p. 216) under the title Wódz Polski w stroju bojowym. It is known that Eljasz-Radzikowski redrew woodcuts from "Tygodnik Ilustrowany" while collecting material for Ubiorów w Polsce. He later used them in his historical paintings.



Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski (Krakow 1840[1] - Krakow 1905) is known not only as a painter, but also as an author of Tatra guides and a great popularizer of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane. He studied painting at Krakow's School of Fine Arts under W.Luszczkiewicz, from whom he took over his "ancient" interest in the ancient monuments of Krakow and historical subjects in paintings. He continued his studies in Munich, where he served a special mission commissioned by the National Government during the 1863 uprising. He traveled to Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. He was friends with J.I.Kraszewski, who often advised him on the choice of subjects for his paintings and helped to publish the Illustrated Guide to the Tatra Mountains, Pieniny and Szczawnica (1870), which Eljasz compiled. Eljasz painted in oil and watercolor - views of the sights of Krakow and larger compositions with historical themes (e.g. Zolkiewski at Cecora, Defense of Krakow against the Swedes, Entry of John III to Vienna).