The death of king Wladyslaw II at Varna

Executed in oil on canvas, Chlebowski employs a dynamic arrangement of figures to convey motion and disorder. Contrasting colors—white for the monarch, reds and greens for the cavalry—draw the eye to focal points, while the muted blues of the sky and water provide atmospheric depth. The brushwork balances detailed rendering of armor with broader, sweeping gestures for the landscape.

After its completion in the mid‑nineteenth century, the painting entered the collection of Poland’s National Museum in Kraków, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in works that merge national history with the Romantic fascination for Oriental and battle subjects.

Chlebowski, known for Orientalist and historical subjects, chose the Battle of Varna—a pivotal defeat for the Polish‑Hungarian forces—as a dramatic episode to explore themes of heroism and tragedy. The depiction aligns with contemporary nineteenth‑century European interest in historicized war scenes that convey moral and national narratives.