Artwork
Portrait of Aleftyna Gościmska née Jerasiewicz

Portrait of Aleftyna Gościmska née Jerasiewicz is an oil painting by Józef Oleszkiewicz. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
The subject of the painting is Aleftyna Gościmska née Jerasiewicz, and it was created by Józef Oleszkiewicz in 1830.
This portrait depicts a woman with dark, curly hair, wearing a blue dress with a black collar and cuffs. She is shown from the chest up, with her right hand resting on her cheek.
The woman's gaze is directed to the left, and she wears a gold necklace and earrings. The background of the painting is a muted brown color.
The subject of the painting is Aleftyna Gościmska née Jerasiewicz, and it was created by Józef Oleszkiewicz in 1830. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume in an image, you can look up the term "chiaroscuro".
Overview
Created in 1830 by Polish painter Józef Oleszkiewicz, *Portrait of Aleftyna Gościmska née Jerasiewicz* is an oil painting depicting its subject in a characteristic genre portrait style. The work is part of the National Museum in Kraków's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait focuses on Aleftyna Gościmska née Jerasiewicz, shown from the chest up, with expressive details: dark, curly hair; a blue dress with black accents; and gold jewelry. Her contemplative pose, with hand on cheek and gaze directed left, conveys introspection.
Technique & Style
Oleszkiewicz employed chiaroscuro, evident in the strong contrasts between the subject's illuminated face and the muted brown background, creating depth and volume. The overall style aligns with the artist's known portrait expertise.
History & Provenance
Painted during Oleszkiewicz's active period in Vilnius and Saint Petersburg under Tsar Alexander I, the portrait eventually entered the National Museum in Kraków's collection, where it remains.
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Artist
Józef Oleszkiewicz (Lithuanian: Juozapas Oleškevičius, Russian: Юзеф Иванович Олешкевич; c.1777 – 5 October 1830) was a Polish painter, active in Vilnius and then in Saint Petersburg during Tsar Alexander I's reign,…


















