Who painted Portret Marii Maurizio?

Portret Marii Maurizio was painted by Jan Matejko in 1859.

Where can I see Portret Marii Maurizio?

Portret Marii Maurizio is held by National Museum in Kraków.

Can I buy a print of Portret Marii Maurizio?

Museum-quality prints of Portret Marii Maurizio are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portret Marii Maurizio

Jan Matejko , 1859

Portret Marii Maurizio is an oil painting by Jan Matejko. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.

About this work

Overview

Jan Matejko’s 1859 oil on canvas, titled *Portret Marii Maurizio*, is a mid‑19th‑century Polish portrait that resides in the National Museum in Kraków. While Matejko is chiefly remembered for monumental historical scenes, this work belongs to his extensive series of individual likenesses, illustrating his versatility beyond large‑scale narratives.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a woman with dark, curled hair, dressed in a black gown trimmed with white lace. She sits upright, a book resting on her lap, a gold watch on her left wrist and a ring on her left hand, and looks directly at the viewer. The composition conveys a poised, educated figure, suggesting both personal refinement and social standing.

Technique & Style

The brushwork balances detailed rendering of accessories with softer transitions in the background, achieving a realistic yet subtly dramatic effect.

Matejko employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, allowing light to fall on the face and hands while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast creates a three‑dimensional presence and emphasizes the textures of fabric, jewelry, and skin. The brushwork balances detailed rendering of accessories with softer transitions in the background, achieving a realistic yet subtly dramatic effect.

History & Provenance

Completed in 1859, the portrait entered the holdings of Kraków’s National Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s collection of 19th‑century Polish art. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s effort to preserve representative works by Matejko, illustrating the breadth of his output beyond his famed historical canvases.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jan Matejko

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.

Museum

National Museum in Kraków

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