Artwork
Death of Tęczyński in the Franciscan church
Death of Tęczyński in the Franciscan church is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jan Matejko. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Death of Tęczyński in the Franciscan church is a historical oil painting created by Jan Matejko in 1890, capturing a pivotal moment in Polish history within a chaotic church setting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the immediate aftermath of Tęczyński's death, conveying a scene of collective shock, grief, and panic among the gathered crowd, emphasizing the emotional impact of the event on those present.
Technique & Style
Executed in the realist style, the work features detailed figural and environmental representation. Matejko's composition utilizes dynamic color and spatial arrangement to guide the viewer's eye through the tumultuous scene, heightened by the contrast between natural light from a large arched window and the dramatic glow of a chandelier.
History & Provenance
Part of Jan Matejko's oeuvre of large-scale historical paintings, this work is now part of the National Museum in Warsaw's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Alojzy Matejko (Polish pronunciation: ; also known as Jan Mateyko; 24 June 1838 – 1 November 1893) was a Polish painter, a leading 19th-century exponent of history painting, known for depicting nodal events from Polish history.
Bloody feast of Count Gero
King Lear
The Coronation of Inês de Castro in 1361
Tavern in Rome, sketch
Martelaren in het circus
The Stamp Collector
Defeat at Legnica, from the series “History of Civilization in Poland”
Bloemstilleven
Sketch for “Skarga's Sermon”
Peasants Fighting at the Village Inn
Allegory of the fall of Poland
The Continence of Scipio