Artwork
Faris
Faris is an oil painting by Aleksander Orłowski. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1825, *Faris* is an oil painting by Aleksander Orłowski, a Polish artist active in the Russian Empire. The work is part of the National Museum’s collection in Warsaw and exemplifies Orłowski’s dual reputation as a painter and an early lithographer in Eastern Europe.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a rider on a dark brown horse, both positioned prominently in the composition. The rider wears a red and blue costume topped with a white hat and holds a long staff in his right hand, suggesting a possible military or ceremonial role. A secondary, indistinct rider appears in the background, adding depth to the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting reveals visible brushwork that conveys texture in both the horse’s coat and the rider’s garments. The muted gray‑brown sky and the soft focus of the distant figure create a modest atmospheric effect, while the crisp rendering of the foreground emphasizes the immediacy of the central subject.
History & Provenance
After its completion, *Faris* entered the holdings of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its presence in the museum reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving works that illustrate the artistic developments of early‑19th‑century Poland and the broader Russian Empire.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aleksander Orłowski (9 March 1777 – 13 March 1832) was a Polish painter and sketch artist, and a pioneer of lithography in the Russian Empire.
Battle of Vienna, sketch
Plecare la vânătoare cu șoimi; pandant: Plecare la vânătoare cu câini
Battle Scene
Encounter of Cuirassiers
The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan
Mohort on horseback with greyhounds
Arab on Horseback
Entry of Henry of Valois to Kraków, sketch
Mohort presenting his horses
Mounted Arab horseman
Rider on horseback with greyhounds
Călăreț turc (hash uzuc)