''History of Civilization in Poland'' ( pl, Dzieje Cywilizacji w Polsce) is a cycle of twelve oil sketches on canvas and wood, created by the Polish nominal painter

Jan Matejko Jan Alojzy Matejko (; also known as Jan Mateyko; 24 June 1838 – 1 November 1893) was a Poles, Polish painting, painter, a leading 19th-century exponent of history painting, known for depicting nodal events from Polish history. His works includ ...

in 1889 with accompanying commentaries. The originals are kept at the Museum of the Royal Castle, Warsaw.

History

Matejko created his series along with an accompanying commentary in part to fulfill a set of research requirements for his new academic title, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

honoris causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

, which he received from the

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...

.Wanda Małaszewska. "Matejko, Jan." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed May 28, 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T055919 Much of the imagery of the cycle has been inspired by the lectures of historian Józef Szujski which Matejko might have attended around 1877–1878, or read in print afterward.''Dzieje Cywilizacji w Polsce''
the complete set of images with the original commentary by Matejko and modern commentary

The works in the series

The cycle consists of the following paintings:

References

{{Authority control 1888 paintings 1889 paintings Paintings by Jan Matejko Paintings in the collection of the Royal Castle, Warsaw