The Soul of Gdansk...

Jan Matejko in Sopot

Entering the room, filled with extraordinary artworks of the greatest Polish historical painter must be a special event. Each of these paintings, drawings, sketches gather visitors around, draws their attention to their colours, style and detail.
Jan Matejko is a Polish painter known for paintings of notable Polish historical and military events. The exhibition reveals that he was also interested in painting of biblical themes, portraits, nature and architectonic objects. During the World War II, his artworks were targeted with intention to destroy by Nazi Germany. The reason behind was, that some of his paintings presented Polish victorious battles over Germany and Prussia. One of them was famous 'The Battle of Grunwald'. Germans felt that the paintings were offensive to their history, effecting their pride, therefore they were targeted. Fortunately, all the paintings had been well hidden and never found by the Nazi Germans.
'The Battle of Grunwald' has survived the Nazi occupation and is located in The National Museum in Warsaw.

Focusing on this exhibition, there are few magnificent oil paintings that pull attention. One of them is the portrait of the painter's children. Four of them standing and posing, dressed up in very sophisticated clothes, with dog by their side. An amazing composition of colours, details of clothing, light application and faces' expression makes this artwork so special. It is also very personal, family concentrated theme. The characters appear proud and glorious as they all gathered in front of the artist, who is their father, willing to make them immortal using his fantastic talent. The details of their dresses are extremely difficult and almost impossible to recreate by tailors, especially the laces, that he designed for the blue dress. The whole background seems to be chosen as a perfect place for his beloved children. There is a beautiful, golden chair like a throne situated behind his little 'princess'. The girls are exposed in bright tones, light vivid colours. Their surrounding is tinted to glorify and highlight the importance of the figures. The only son is dressed in a very dark, almost black suit. He is supporting his face by his hand, leaned his forearm on the golden chair.

It appears, that Matejko was also fascinated by horses. There are few horses in different configurations perpetuated by him. They all have various expressions that audience can conclude. Each of them is a portrait of a horse itself. One of them presents a standing horse, looking petrified and exhausted. The other one demonstrates a white horse's head in profile with pride.

Every image has been made using different techniques, style and materials.
Among these incredible paintings, there are numerous pencil drawings and sketches. Some of them are more detailed that the others, focused on faces rather than other parts, smaller and bigger ones. Some of them reveal just face of the model. They seem to be important figures, real characters in the Polish history.

Overall, the whole exhibition appears interesting and worth to see. Like many of them, it conveys true talent and transfers an audience into a magical world of art, heals a soul and distracts a mind from issues that human faces each day. It makes me feel better, richer and clever. It makes me feel raised.