Wincenty Smokowski ( lt, Vincentas Smakauskas; 19 February 1797,

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...

— 13 February 1876, Krikonys, Ignalina Raion), was a Polish-Lithuanian painter and illustrator in the

Academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, ...

and Classical styles. He created portraits, historical scenes, landscapes and

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

works; notably realistic, unprejudiced portrayals of Jews and Gypsies.

Biography

From 1817 to 1822, he studied at

Vilnius University Vilnius University ( lt, Vilniaus universitetas) is a public research university, oldest in the Baltic states and in Northern Europe outside the United Kingdom (or 6th overall following foundations of Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, Glasgow and ...

where he was a pupil of the English engraver and professor of Fine Art, Joseph Saunders. From 1823 to 1829, he continued at the

Imperial Academy of Arts The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, was an art academy in Saint Petersburg, founded in 1757 by the founder of the Imperial Moscow University Ivan Shuvalov under the name ''Academy of the T ...

in Saint Petersburg. He was awarded a silver medal in 1825 and a gold medal in 1827 for his version of the death of

Epaminondas Epaminondas (; grc-gre, Ἐπαμεινώνδας; 419/411–362 BC) was a Greek general of Thebes and statesman of the 4th century BC who transformed the Ancient Greek city-state, leading it out of Spartan subjugation into a pre-eminent posit ...

. In 1829, he was invited by

Jan Rustem Jan Rustem ( hy, Յան Ռուստամ; 1762 – 21 June 1835) was a painter of Armenian ethnicity who lived and worked in the territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Primarily a portrait painter Portrait Painting is a genre ...

to become an assistant professor at the university. He held that position until 1832, when the university was closed by Russian authorities.Biographical notes
@ DESA Unicum. In 1836, he graduated from the "Vilnius Medico-Surgical Academy" and worked as a doctor in the area around

Švenčionys Švenčionys (, known also by several alternative names) is a town located north of Vilnius in Lithuania. It is the capital of the Švenčionys district municipality. , it had population of 4,065 of which about 17% is part of the Polish minority ...

from 1841 to 1856. After two years in Warsaw, he practiced medicine from his wife's estate at Krikonys, a small village in the Ignalina region.Biographical notes
@

Lithuanian Art Museum Lithuanian National Museum of Art is the largest national museum in Lithuania collecting, restoring, and conserving art as well as historical objects of cultural value while presenting artefacts of national importance in an astonishing number of ...

. In addition to his paintings, he provided illustrations for '' Konrad Wallenrod'' (1828) and '' Pan Tadeusz'' (1860) by

Adam Mickiewicz Adam Bernard Mickiewicz (; 24 December 179826 November 1855) was a Polish poet, dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator and political activist. He is regarded as national poet in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. A principal figure in Polish Ro ...

and the poem ' (1846) by

Józef Ignacy Kraszewski Józef Ignacy Kraszewski (28 July 1812 – 19 March 1887) was a Polish writer, publisher, historian, journalist, scholar, painter, and author who produced more than 200 novels and 150 novellas, short stories, and art reviews, which makes him the ...

. He is also known for copying and helping to preserve the 15th century frescoes at

Trakai Island Castle Trakai Island Castle ( lt, Trakų salos pilis; pl, Zamek w Trokach) is an island castle located in Trakai, Lithuania, on an island in Lake Galvė. The construction of the stone castle was begun in the 14th century by Kęstutis, and around ...

. A street is named after him in the

Pašilaičiai Pašilaičiai is an eldership in the Vilnius City Municipality Vilnius ( , ; see also #Etymology and other names, other names) is the capital and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (ac ...

district of Vilnius.

Selected paintings

Smokowski Gypsy encampment.jpg, Gypsy Encampment by a Creek File:Stephen Bathory founding Academy in Vilnius 2.png,

Stephen Bathory Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

founding the
Vilnius Academy Smokowski Jewish wedding.jpg,

Jewish Wedding A Jewish wedding is a wedding ceremony that follows Jewish laws and traditions. While wedding ceremonies vary, common features of a Jewish wedding include a ''ketubah'' (marriage contract) which is signed by two witnesses, a ''chuppah'' or ''hu ...

Wincenty Smokowski - Entry of Bolesław the Brave into Kiev - MP 5173 - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg, Entry of

Bolesław the Brave Boleslav or Bolesław may refer to: In people: * Boleslaw (given name) In geography: *Bolesław, Dąbrowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland *Bolesław, Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland *Bolesław, Silesian Voivodeship, Pol ...

into Kiev

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smokowski, Wincenty 1797 births 1876 deaths 19th-century Polish painters 19th-century Polish male artists History painters Genre painters Polish portrait painters Artists from Vilnius Polish illustrators Lithuanian people of Polish descent Lithuanian painters Polish male painters

Biography

Selected paintings

References

Further reading

External links