Jan Matejko (1838–1893)
Portrait of Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz, 1887
Donated by the Government Board of the Galician Seym in 1919
imnk
miniaturka

material: oil on canvas

dimensions: 121,5 × 88,5 cm

description: Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz (1823–1887) was a lawyer, politician, Galician activist associated with the conservative party referred to as “Stańczycy,” Mayor of Krakow and Marshal of the Galician Seym – the only one without noble lineage. He commissioned Matejko to paint his portrait as he knew the painter well from the time of his mayorship in Krakow. The artist complained about Zyblikiewicz’s common, ordinary face, worrying that the sitter may not be satisfied with his not very dignified appearance, captured in the work. He tried to draw the viewer’s attention to other elements adding variety to the marshal’s portrait – a splendid colourful national costume, a calpack with a plume of feathers, a decorative tapestry in the background and a pose inspired by the Sarmatian portraits of nobles and magnates. Barbara Ciciora

exposition: The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice,
The Cloth Hall, 1, Main Market Square


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