Jan MATEJKO (1838-1893), Stanchion, 1881

Lithograph, paper; 33 x 25.5 cm (light framed);
Signed and dated on plate at bottom: JM rp. 1881.
Work personally drawn by Jan Matejko on lithographic stone, specially designed for a portfolio published by the Artistic and Literary Circle in Cracow in 1881, the purpose of which was for the Circle to collect funds for the reconstruction of the Croatian capital Zagreb, affected by the earthquake the year before.
The lithograph was made in1881 at the Artistic Lithography Department of Aureliusz Pruszyński in Cracow.
Aureliusz Pruszyński (9.09.1847 Kasinka Mała pov. Limanowa - 22.04.1904 Krakow) a Krakow lithographer, owner of the esteemed Aureliusz Pruszyński Artistic Lithography Workshop in Krakow established in 1873 at 17 Pijarska Street, from ca 1902 the owner of the workshop was his son Zenon Pruszyński (see: "Słownik artystów polskich ...", vol. 8, pp. 92-93).
In the factory of A. Pruszyński, since the end of the 19th century, leading artists from Cracow reflected their graphic works in lithography (including posters), including the famous "Teka Melpomena".