Kazimierz Pochwalski (1855-1940), Country Well

watercolor, paper / 21.5 x 29 cm in light passe-partout
41 x 49 cm, dimensions with frame
signature p.d.: 'K. Pochwalski Budziaki'
on the reverse:
label TOW. PRZYJ. SZTUK PIĘKNN. W KRAKOWIE
certificate of Dr. Kazimierz Buczkowski dated 30.X.1963.
inventory number: UK/pt/17/2/2020/c


ORIGIN:
artist
artist's family
private collection, Bielsk Podlaski

Kazimierz Teofil Pochwalski, painter, born in Kraków. Initially learned drawing and painting from his father, then studied at the School of Fine Arts in Cracow. Having received a scholarship, he left for Munich, taking up studies at the Academy of Fine Arts there under the direction of A. Wagner and O. Seitz. After returning to Cracow, he studied in the composition department under Jan Matejko. He further supplemented his painting education in Vienna, Rome and Paris, where he was a pupil of L. Bonnat. Influenced by Munich painting, he painted genre scenes. His outstanding talent as a portraitist became apparent fairly quickly. He was successful at national and international exhibitions. He exhibited extensively at the Krakow and Lviv Society of Friends of Fine Arts, the Warsaw Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts and the Krywult Salon, in Paris, Munich, Vienna, Berlin, Florence, Venice and Rome. In 1893 he took the chair of painting at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. He portrayed many famous figures, including Emperor Franz Joseph and members of his family. After World War I ended and Poland regained its independence, Pochwalski returned to Poland and settled permanently in Cracow. He created realistic and even naturalistic portraits, in which he was remarkably able to capture the physical likeness of the model while bringing out his mental features. His talent as a portraitist was admired by his contemporaries. He died in Krakow and was buried in Rakowicki Cemetery. His paintings are in many museums at home and abroad.