Fołtyn Maria - opera singer, 1972 [photo: E. Hartwig].

Maria Foltyn-Swierzynska (1924-2012) - world-famous singer and opera director, founder and president of the Society of Moniuszko Music Lovers. In 1971 she ended her career as an opera singer and became an opera director and cultural activist (among other things, in 1978-98 she was director of the International Moniuszko Festival in Kudowa Zdrój).

Handwritten dedication on the photograph(center and bottom) which reads: To Master Mr. Lepianki- Maria Fołtyn, 3 May 1972. measuring 18.6 x 13.1 cm, signed in the l.d. corner E. Hartwig, depicting M.F. in the role of Halka (she played this role more than 200 times), at the bottom glued (at the top dry mounting) to a sheet of 22.5 x 15.5 cm (with a description at the bottom: Mrs. Maria Fołtyn). Verso of the sheet stamped Gabinet Naprawy Dziel Sztuki i Przedm. Artystycznych Gracjan Lepianko Warsaw, Krak.-Przedm. 10.

Condition: sheet with minor creases, soiling and stains, photograph - indentations on the surface (pen firmly pressed ), discoloration at top right.

Edward Hartwig (1909-203) - one of the most famous Polish photographers

Gracjan Lepianko (1905 - 15 May 1991) - Warsaw restorer who ran the Office for the Repair of Works of Art and Artistic Objects for several decades at 10 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street. He graduated from the Schools of Drawing and Painting at 9 Wierzbowa Street, the School of Applied Art at Chmielna Street and the School of Decorative Arts at Myśliwiecka Street, obtaining the title of master decorative painter and master of artistic metal products. He began studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, but the financial situation forced him to interrupt his studies and take up a job. He became self-employed in 1931 and changed locations several times(before, 1952, he ended up in Krakowskie Przedmieście). He was passionate about sports, training amateur boxing and wrestling. During World War II, a passion for reviving "dead"/destroyed objects awoke in him. He not only repaired but also collected antiques. After the war he became very popular, there were films about him, mentions in the press and guidebooks. Visited by numerous celebrities(of many fields), who sometimes left commemorative entries.