Jacek MALCZEWSKI, PORTRET JÓZEF PAKIESA

Oil, canvas, 81.8 x 56.5 cm, signed l.g.: [18]96 JMalczewski. The collection of the National Museum in Cracow contains a photograph of the featured painting taken by Amalia Krieger, who was a friend of Malczewski. Jozef Pakies (1858-1923), who was educated in Vienna, began building in Krakow in the early 1890s. He collaborated with Waclaw Krzyzanowski. His early projects were characterized by eclecticism (Jadwiga Hussarzewska's tenement at 27 Straszewskiego Street, 1897; the building of the Marian Institute, 14/16 Pędzichów Street, 1899), his more mature ones by semi-modernism (Zofia Popielowa's house, ul. Basztowa 1, 1908; the house of Wanda Pollerowa, 32 Szpitalna St.; the Academic Bursa of the Jagiellonian University, 7 Grabarska St., 1910-11; St. Hedwig's Institution, 38 Krupnicza St.; the building of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, 17 Slawkowska St.). City councilman, publicist on architectural and urban planning issues. He was active in the Cracow Technical Society and city urban planning committees. He was a member of the Society of Lovers of the History and Monuments of Cracow. He belonged to the group of experts consulting on the restoration of Wawel Castle; he accompanied Z. Hendel on a trip to Italy to better reconstruct the shape of the cloisters. From 1921 he was a member of the committee for the construction of the building of the Polish National Loan Fund.

In 1872-75 and 1877-79 he studied at the School of Fine Arts in Cracow, including with Władysław Łuszczkiewicz and Jan Matejko, and in 1876-77 with Henri Ernest Lehman at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. The artist's formation was influenced by numerous trips to Paris, Munich, Vienna, Italy, Greece and Turkey. An important source of inspiration for Malczewski was native folklore, Polish literature and history, as well as biblical and mythological traditions. In his early works, he painted realistic scenes related to the martyrdom of Poles after 1863. After 1890, symbolism was formed in the artist's work and portraits, self-portraits and genre compositions painted in this convention are created. Considered the most outstanding representative of Polish Symbolist painting, he also became famous as an outstanding educator. He taught painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow (1896-1900 and 1910-1921), and served as its rector in the period 1912-1914. In 1897 he became a founding member of the Society of Polish Artists "Art". Malczewski's work was repeatedly presented abroad, appreciated and awarded, including medals at international exhibitions in Munich (1892), Berlin (1891) and Paris (1900).