Jan Matejko (1838 - 1893), Saint Nicholas (drawing for the iconostasis in the St. Norbert Orthodox Church in Cracow), 1888

pencil, paper; 28 x 19 cm;
Signed with bound monogram and dated l. d.: "JM / 8/3 888 rp."
Inscribed l. d.: "[?] Beaci / 30/6 888 rp." (in ink)

Provenance:
Private collection, Austria

Reproduced image:
Tarnowski S., Matejko , Bookstore of the Polish Publishing Company, Krakow 1897, p. 374 (il. cz.-b.).

Literature:
Gorzkowski M., Jan Matejko. Epoka od r. 1861 do końca życia artysty z dziennika prowadzonego w ciągu lat siedemnastu , Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie, Kraków 1993.

For the first time in an auction offer a unique drawing by the master Matejko, reproduced in a 19th century publication about the artist.
The depiction of St. Nicholas was made for the St. Norbert (now Elevation of the Holy Cross) Orthodox Church in Cracow. The brick iconostasis in the temple was designed by Tadeusz Stryjeński, the icons - by Jan Matejko, and the execution was handled by Wladyslaw Rossowski. Marian Gorzkowski recalled the creation of the projects in his diary: "on February 23 I bought a new drawing block and delivered it to Matejka; he was still sick, lying in bed, but at the sight of pencils and paper he immediately set to work. Recalling that, having previously viewed the St. Norbert Russian Orthodox Church with me, he had promised to give models of saints for painting the iconostasis, to this work he now proceeded. During his illness, he drew a lovely Byzantine-style Christ, then the Apostles, and finally the Annunciation of NP Mary. Drawing these ideas for the Ruthenian Orthodox church in Cracow, he recalled his favorite simultaneous designs for the Wawel Cathedral [...]". What's more, sixteen pencil sketches, representing ideas for iconostasis paintings for the St. Norbert Orthodox Church, Matejko earmarked for sale, the proceeds of which were to be used to help persecuted Uniates.
St. Nicholas was especially revered in Russia, and it was under his name that many beautiful monasteries and councils were built. In the icon made by Matejko, the Bishop of Myra holds apples in his hands. This is a reference to one of the legends telling of his saving three girls from prostitution to provide them with money for their dowries. In the iconography, the three pouches of gold given to the women by Nicholas were replaced first by balls and later by golden apples. Also notable in the depiction are the richly decorated attributes of episcopal authority of the Greek Catholic rite.
Chiaroscuro modeling, confidently guided lines, expressive facial features and intricate ornamentation make this work a significant collector's item. Additionally, Matejko's recently dated drawings from the 1880s were not available on the commercial auction market. Of particular interest, additional descriptions on the work, including one that reads as a diminutive of Beata's name, allow us to presume that the drawing may have been a gift to the artist's younger daughter. The composition in question offers an opportunity to add to the collection of the painter's works, and due to its presence in the literature, it also has special historical and artistic value.