Wojciech Kossak, DOLA UŁANA, 1916

46.2 x 54.0 cm - oil, cardboard signed p.d.: Wojciech Kossak | 1916

On the reverse near the upper edge a sticker (stamp, black ink): SALON MALARZY POLSKICH | KRAKÓW, FLORIAŃSKA 37. | No. 325 | Author Kossak Wojciech | Work Dola ułana los [...] | Type Oil | [Price]; underneath it a stamp with the Kos coat of arms (the coat of arms of the Kossak family); p.d. no. (crayon): 12778.

Salon of Polish Painters, located at 37 Florianska Street, was run from 1885 to 1939 by Henryk Frist and his sons. The company, which made a name for itself primarily as a renowned publishing house, also dealt in trade and art appraisal.



After the outbreak of World War I, Wojciech Kossak was drafted into the Austrian army, while from 1918 he served in the Polish army as a major of the 3rd lancer regiment. While serving in the army, the artist also painted: portraits of commanders and colleagues, scenes from the battlefield and camp life. It was then that he created a nostalgic composition depicting a hurried cavalryman who, holding a row of horses, bids farewell to his faithful comrade. This motif was quite rarely repeated by the artist, hence this work, painted with great freedom and characterized by high artistic values, is a treat for collectors.

Wojciech Kossak (Paris 1856 - Krakow 1942 ) - widely known painter, seen primarily as a great battle artist. The son and pupil of Juliusz Kossak, he was educated at the Cracow School of Fine Arts, the Munich Academy and in Paris. In 1895-1902 he stayed mainly in Berlin, working for Kaiser Wilhelm II. He traveled extensively, including to Spain and Egypt, where he made sketches for intended panoramas. In later years, he traveled to the United States several times performing portrait commissions. In 1913 he was appointed professor at the Warsaw School of Fine Arts. During the years of World War I, he served in the military. He was co-author of panoramas: "Raclawice" (1893-1894), "Berezina" (1895-1896), "Battle of the Pyramids" (1901) and sketches for the unrealized "Somosierra" (1900). With temperament and freedom, he created extensively painted dynamic battle scenes, historical scenes, genre scenes and numerous portraits. He was fond of painting horses. His paintings, glorifying the Polish military and the heroism of soldiers, both ancient and contemporary to the artist, appealed to the patriotic feelings of the public and enjoyed great popularity.