Artwork

Murder scene

Murder scene, by Pantaleon Szyndler, oil, 1885
Murder scene, by Pantaleon Szyndler, oil, 1885

Murder scene is an oil painting by Pantaleon Szyndler. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1885, *Murder scene* is an oil painting by Polish artist Pantaleon Szyndler. Executed in the Academic tradition, the work portrays a violent tableau that combines narrative drama with a careful rendering of human figures.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a woman in a white dress lying on the floor, a sword lying nearby, and a dark‑clad man looming over her. An elderly figure in a red robe and white beard watches from the background, which includes a dimly lit fireplace and a window, suggesting a confined interior space charged with tension.

Technique & Style

Szyndler employs strong chiaroscuro, using deep shadows and bright highlights to model the bodies and heighten the emotional intensity. Bold brushwork and vivid coloration give the scene a palpable immediacy, while the academic attention to anatomy and drapery anchors the dramatic content in realistic detail.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. Szyndler, who was active in the late 19th century and associated with literary circles such as poet Cyprian Norwid, often drew on Polish Romantic poetry for thematic inspiration, a practice reflected in this work.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Pantaleon Szyndler

Artist

Pantaleon Szyndler

Pantaleon Józef Szyndler or Szendler (26 July 1846, Lipie – 31 January 1905, Warsaw) was a Polish painter in the Academic style.