Focus on this artwork and analyze the Reception and analysis.
Matejko began work on this painting in August 1864 and finished it in November 1866. It was one of many paintings portraying key historical moments in the history of Poland that he would create over his life. Matejko however did not simply illustrate the history, he intended his paintings to have powerful educational and emotional values.The work caused a scandal in contemporary, still-partitioned Poland; it was discussed even before its unveiling. It offended a number of society figures, many tracing direct lineage to the major magnate families whose members are portrayed in the painting as traitors to the Polish cause. There were a number of critical reviews of the work in the contemporary press, Matejko received anonymous threats, and some aristocrats are said to have considered buying the painting only to destroy it. Some accused him of defeatism, pessimism, exploiting public sentiment over a historical scandal for contemporary publicity; it was thus criticized by notable artists such as Józef Ignacy Kraszewski and Cyprian Norwid. In Paris, a French-Polish aristocrat, Count Alexandre Joseph Colonna-Walewski, campaigned against including it in an exhibition. The painting, however, quickly garnered supporters, who in turn reproduced modified copies of it, replacing historical figures with major contemporary critics. Responding to the public outcry, Matejko painted a response—a painting titled Judgement on Matejko (Wyrok na Matejkę, 1867), in which he portrayed his execution by some of his most vocal critics.Serious art critics had less emotional, but also mixed, opinions of the work. It was received less favourably by Józef Szujski and Stanisław Tarnowski, but praised by painters Henryk Siemiradzki and Artur Grottger. Comments of Wojciech Korneli Stattler are interpreted by different authors as either praise, or critique. In Paris, displayed at Exposition Universelle, 1867 the painting received a gold medal. While in Poland the painting's context and message was clearly understood, the work, displayed in Paris, proved to be too obscure for the audience there, with few understanding the complex, historical context; some French critics interpreted it as a painting of a gambling hall. It is said, however, to have been well understood by the Russian visitors to the French gallery, some of whom are said to have been interested in acquiring the painting, which was commended by Poles as "they bought the real ones, might as well buy the painted ones, too". Eventually, however, the painting was acquired by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria for 50,000 franks. It was shown at a gallery in Vienna, and eventually ended up at the Hofmuseum. Thanks to the efforts of minister Juliusz Twardowski it was purchased by the government of the Second Polish Republic in 1920. As part of the Wawel Royal Castle National Art Collection it has been on a public display in the Royal Castle in Warsaw since 1931, with the exception of the period of World War II, when it was briefly looted by the Nazis.The painting is usually interpreted as criticism of the Russian interference in Polish political affairs, and the collaboration of treasonous Polish aristocrats. By the end of World War I it was already seen as a priceless artifact of Polish culture. The painting was positively interpreted in communist Poland as a symbol of critique of the Polish nobility, blamed for their selfishness leading to the partitions. More recently, the painting has been interpreted as the symbol of solitary protest, and a moral justification of dissent, even when such a protest is known to be futile, ignored by most. It has also been described as an iconic picture of an emotional protest and a symbol of desperate, patriotic protest. In the 1980s the painting inspired a protest song by Jacek Kaczmarski. Over time, the painting has become famous in Poland; Walter M. Cummins notes that the scene from this work was "made familiar to every Polish child by [this] frequently reproduced painting".
looted by the Nazis Wawel Royal Castle National Art Collection Second Polish Republic Emperor Franz Joseph I looted magnate Józef Ignacy Kraszewski Polish Judgement on Matejko Royal Castle in Warsaw World War II Exposition Universelle Juliusz Twardowski Artur Grottger Austria protest song Cyprian Norwid communist Poland Jacek Kaczmarski Stanisław Tarnowski World War I Henryk Siemiradzki Wojciech Korneli Stattler Józef Szujski Hofmuseum Franz Joseph I of Austria Count Alexandre Joseph Colonna-Walewski history of Poland Russia