Kajetan Stefanowicz (12 July 1886, in Drohobycz – 20 September 1920, near Rohaczów) was a Polish Art-Nouveau painter and illustrator of Armenian ancestry who served as a Rotmistrz (Cavalry Captain) with the Polish Legions in World War I.

Biography

He was taught the basics of drawing and painting by his father, the portrait painter,

Antoni Stefanowicz Antoni Stefanowicz (1858, Tovtry - 17 December 1929, Lwów) was a Polish painter and art teacher of Armenians in Poland, Armenian ancestry; specializing in portraits. Biography His parents, Kajetan and Emilia, were major landowners. From 1876 ...

. This was followed by studies at the

Kraków Academy of Fine Arts The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków ( pl, Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Jana Matejki w Krakowie, usually abbreviated to ''ASP''), is a public institution of higher education located in the centre of Kraków, Poland. It is the oldest Pol ...

with Józef Pankiewicz and Józef Mehoffer; the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, with

Otto Seitz Otto Seitz, was a 19th-century German painter; born 3 September 1846 in Munich. As a professor with the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, he was the mentor of many major artists. Works His primary subjects were genre scenes, floral still life and ...

, and private lessons in Paris with

Ferdinand Humbert Jacques-Ferdinand Humbert (8 October 1842, in Paris – 6 October 1934, in Paris) was a French painter who specialized in portraits and historical scenes. Life and work His uncle, Jean Charles Ferdinand Humbert (1813–1881), was a famous la ...

.Biography
@ Wiki.Ormianie. He began working primarily as an illustrator; favoring fairy tales and Orientalist themes. He also did posters and designed women's clothing and furniture. Later, he painted decorations at the offices of the Land Credit Society in

Lwów Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...

(now a branch of the National Bank of Ukraine) and was a co-founder of the artistic and literary magazine, ''Wianki'' (Garlands). Along with many Polish artists, he was a contributor to '' Tygodnik Illustrowany''. In February, 1915, he joined the

Legion Wschodni Legion Wschodni (English: Eastern Legion) was a Polish military formation, part of the Austro-Hungarian Army, created in Lwów, Austrian Galicia, in early August 1914. Its establishment was supported by Supreme National Committee, a quasi-governme ...

, under the command of Władysław Belina-Prażmowski, and received the nickname " Soplica". He served throughout the war and participated in the Battle of Lemberg. During the Polish-Soviet War, he fought in the

Battle of Koziatyn The Battle of Koziatyn (also known as the Raid on Koziatyn and Koziatyn Envelopment) of 25–27 April 1920 was one of the most spectacular raids of the Polish cavalry during the Polish-Soviet War. In the effect of a pincer maneuver some 160 kilo ...

and the seizure of

Chyrów Khyriv (, ) is a town in Sambir Raion, Lviv Oblast (region) of Ukraine with a population of around It hosts the administration of Khyriv urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. It became known principally for the celebrated eponymous ...

. He was killed just before the beginning of the truce. In 1916, he published ''Song of the Legionnaires: drawings of Kajetan Stefanowicz - Petty Officer 1st Regiment of the Polish Legions'', a collection of engravings. He received several posthumous awards, including the

Order Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', pl, Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was created in 1792 by Polish King Stan ...

Cross of Independence Cross of Independence ( pl, Krzyż Niepodległości) was second highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland, and was released in three cla ...

and Cross of Valour, and was buried at the Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów.

Selected paintings

Kajetan Stefanowicz Paryżanka 1912.jpg, Parisian Kajetan Stefanowicz Dwie kobiety.jpg, Two Women Kajetan Stefanowicz Kobieta z wężem 1915.jpg, Woman with a Serpent Kajetan Stefanowicz Portret żony 1919.jpg, Portrait of his Wife

References

External links

Works by Stefanowicz
@ the Wirtualne Muzeum Secesji
''Song of the Legionnaires ...''
full text at the Jagiellonian Digital Library {{DEFAULTSORT:Stefanowicz, Kajetan 1886 births 1920 deaths 20th-century Polish painters 20th-century Polish male artists Art Nouveau designers Orientalist painters People from Drohobych Polish illustrators Polish Legions in World War I Polish people of Armenian descent Recipients of the Cross of Independence Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) Polish male painters