Who painted Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb"?

Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb" was painted by Józef Simmler in 1855.

Where can I see Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb"?

Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb" is held by National Museum in Kraków.

Can I buy a print of Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb"?

Museum-quality prints of Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb" are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb"

Józef Simmler , 1855

Sketch to the Painting "Three Marys Walking to Christ's Tomb" is an oil painting by Józef Simmler. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1855 by Polish artist Józef Simmler, this oil sketch serves as a preparatory study for a larger composition titled “Three Marys Walking to Christ’s Tomb.” Executed in a restrained, classical manner, the work belongs to the religious genre and is currently housed in the National Museum in Kraków.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows three female figures moving together along a path, each clothed in long, modest garments.

The composition shows three female figures moving together along a path, each clothed in long, modest garments. The central figure wears a blue over‑robe atop a reddish‑brown dress, while the right‑hand figure is dressed in a reddish‑brown robe with a white veil, and the left figure—partially hidden—sports a yellow robe and green head covering. Their solemn march alludes to the biblical episode of the women who visited Christ’s tomb.

Technique & Style

Simmler employed oil on canvas in a sketch‑like manner, using broad, fluid strokes to suggest form and drapery rather than detailed finish. The palette is muted, dominated by earth tones and subdued blues, reinforcing a contemplative mood. The cloudy sky and a solitary tree in the background are rendered with soft edges, reflecting the artist’s classical training and his preference for balanced composition.

History & Provenance

The study was produced as part of Simmler’s preparation for a larger, unfinished painting on the same subject. After remaining in the artist’s estate, it entered the collection of the National Museum in Kraków, where it has been displayed as an example of mid‑19th‑century Polish religious art and Simmler’s academic approach.