Foot of Queen Jadwiga. Sketch

Jan Matejko

Basic information

ID: Ж-232
Author: Jan Matejko
Name: Foot of Queen Jadwiga. Sketch
Country: Poland
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 42 x 52.5

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: history painting
Plot: Legend of the little foot of Queen Jadwiga
Provenance: Collection of Boleslaw Orzechowicz

Information about author

Author: Jan Matejko
Artist's lifetime: 1838–1893
Country: Poland
Biography: Jan Alojzy Matejko (born 24 June 1838 in Krakow – died 1 November 1893 in Krakow) – a famous Polish painter, graphic artist, and teacher. In 1852, he began studying painting at the Krakow School of Fine Arts (now the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts). He studied at Wojciech Korneli Stattler and Wladyslaw Luszczkiewicz. The artist graduated from the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts in 1858 and after that, he studied for two more years in Munich with Hermann Anschütz, where the young artist experienced a period of fascination with the historical painting of French painter Paul Delaroche. The artist participated in numerous art exhibitions. He travelled frequently to Paris and Vienna and visited Prague, Budapest, Berlin, London, Istanbul and many locations in Italy. He became the head of Krakow School of Fine Arts in 1873 and remained at its head until his death. His students included such outstanding Polish painters as Jacek Malczewski, Stanislaw Wyspianski, Jozef Mehoffer. Jan Matejko's artistic heritage includes more than three hundred paintings: portraits and paintings on historical, religious and allegorical themes, as well as several hundreds of graphic drawings and sketches. Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery holds some of the best works of this outstanding Polish artist.

Object description

The sketch by Jan Matejko illustrates the medieval legend about Queen Jadwiga, who was renowned for her kindness and compassion. According to the legend, while passing by the construction of a church with her retinue, Jadwiga noticed that one of the stonemasons looked upset. She asked him the reason for his distress, and upon learning that he could not afford to call a doctor for his sick wife, she placed her foot on the stone, unfastened the golden buckle from her boot, and gave it to the astonished man. When the queen left, the workers noticed that her footprint was imprinted on the stone as if it were soft clay. They embedded it in the church's wall as a mark of gratitude. This very stone block with Queen Jadwiga's footprint is believed to be seen on the facade of the Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krakow. In the sketch, against the backdrop of the church facade, a group of people is depicted standing amidst the construction. Surrounding them are scattered stone blocks. In the centre of the composition is a young woman in dark brown clothing with a white shawl covering her shoulders. She has placed her foot on the stone. One of the workers is kneeling before her and touching her boot with his hand.

Inscriptions

In the lower right corner is the artist's signature: "J. M.".

Portrayed person

The name of the person portrayed: Jadwiga Anjou (Jadwiga Andegaweńska) was Queen of Poland from 1384, the youngest daughter of the Hungarian King Louis the Great and Elizabeth of Bosnia, and the first wife of Wladyslaw II Jagiello (from 1386). She is a Catholic saint.
Lifetime of the person portrayed: c. 1374 – 17 July 1399

Legal regulation

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

Foot of Queen Jadwiga. Sketch

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