Jan Kanty GUMOWSKI (1883-1946), Baszta Stolarska in Krakow, 1926

Lithograph, paper; 39 x 27 cm (clear passe-partout), 52 x 39 cm (passe-partout);
Signed on stone with monogram l. d.: JG.
Published through the efforts of the National Museum in Krakow in 1926. Printed at the Zaklad Litograficzny Franciszka Zielińskiego i Sp. in Kraków.

Glosa: Jan Kanty Gumowski (born October 20, 1883 in Krościenko nad Dunajcem, died November 6, 1946 in Cracow) - Polish painter, graphic artist and illustrator. He was born into the family of doctor Franciszek Gumowski and Józefa née Stehr, brother of Marian, a historian and numismatist. After graduating from gymnasium in Cracow, he studied at the Higher Industrial School for two years. In 1902 he began studying at the School of Fine Arts, where he developed a distinctive way of drawing under the guidance of Jozef Mehoffer. Outstanding achievements during his studies were recognized by the awarding of a silver medal in 1905 and the awarding of evening drawings in 1906 and 1907. Parallel to his studies, Jan Kanty Gumowski worked at Krakow's National Museum and the Archive of Old Records, where he took stock of historical monuments. Among other things, he was involved in reconstruction work on royal insignia. After graduating, he briefly moved to Warsaw, where he found employment in the stained glass studio of F. Bialkowski. After returning to Cracow due to financial difficulties, he took a job teaching drawing at the State Industrial School. He also continued his studies under Konstanty Laszczka. Thanks to a scholarship awarded by the Czartoryski family in a competition of the Society of Friends of Fine Arts, he left in 1911 for a year's study in Florence, and then to Munich and Paris. He returned to Krakow in 1914, at which time he became a member of the Rifleman, where he adopted the pseudonym Rolicz. After the outbreak of World War I, he joined the Polish Legions and was part of the First Brigade. Initially, he was a non-commissioned officer of the gendarmerie, and later became a chevalier. He fought in the battle of Kostiuchnowka and during the skirmish at Jezioma, and in 1917 attained the rank of ensign in the 2nd Infantry Regiment under Michal Zymierski. In the autumn of 1917 he joined the Center for the Reconstruction of Galicia, where he became an architectural referent. In 1918 he was part of the crew of the armored train "Pilsudski", and later fought in the operational group commanded by General Aleksander Karnicki. From July 1920, he was graded to the 13th Vilnius Lancer Regiment, then, with the rank of rotamaster, to the 22nd Lancer Regiment. From his military service he earned decorations: "For faithful service," "Star of Przemysl," "Armored Pilsudski," and "Cross of Independence" (in 1937. After leaving the army, he settled in Cracow. During World War II, in October 1942, he was arrested and imprisoned in Auschwitz Concentration Camp, from where he was released after two months thanks to the intervention of a high-ranking Nazi whom Jan Kanty Gumowski knew from his studies in Munich. Soon found to be terminally ill, he died on November 6, 1946 and was laid to rest in the tomb of the Malinowski family, who were friends of his, at Rakowicki Cemetery.
He created using oil painting, watercolor, pencil sketches, pen and lithographic technique and pastels. The most famous part of his work are lithographic portfolios with architectural themes. In addition, he painted landscapes, portraits and genre scenes with military themes. Less known, although very extensive, is Jan Gumowski's work in drawing reconstructions of historical monuments of Polish architecture: cities, fortresses, castles.