Stańczyk (painting)
Stańczyk | |
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Warsaw National Museum, Warsaw |
Stańczyk (Full title: Stańczyk during a ball at the court of Queen Bona in the face of the loss of Smolensk,
It is one of Matejko's most famous works and the one that launched him to fame. It has been described by the Warsaw National Museum as one of the most recognizable paintings in its collection, and is a flagship painting for the "Collection of Polish paintings prior to 1914". Its primary component is the contrast between the solemn jester (the titular Stańczyk) and the lively ball going on in the background. The painting presents Stańczyk with a sense of isolation and hopelessness, which reflects the political situation of Poland during the 19th century.[1]
Stańczyk remains an important symbol of Polish culture. Stańczyk embodied satire to criticize social problems while also offering wisdom to the common people. His character is remembered and is a proud part of Polish national character. [2] The painting has created an image of Stańczyk that has become iconic and widely recognized in Poland.
Stańczyk
Scarcity of sources gave rise to four distinct hypotheses about Stańczyk in the 19th century: that he was entirely invented by
Content
The full title of the painting is Stańczyk w czasie balu na dworze królowej Bony wobec straconego Smoleńska (Stańczyk during a ball at the court of Queen Bona in the face of the loss of Smolensk).[10][b]
The primary composition of the painting is in the contrast between the solemn jester (Stańczyk) – the focus of the painting – and the lively ball going on in the background.
The Sad Clown Paradox
The Sad Clown Paradox is the concept that someone who looks happy on the outside is actually sad inside. A clown is usually associated with this paradox since clowns are usually seen as a happy figure, but this painting is also a representation of it, since Stańczyk is a jester, whose job is to entertain, yet he is shown in a moment of hopelessness. The dark colors in the painting convey this theme with the contrast of the bright colors in the ball.[14]
History, significance and historiography
Matejko was fascinated by Stańczyk from the times of his youth, and portrayed him in several of his works (most notably, besides the painting discussed here, in
The painting is also seen as highly significant for the
Upon its creation, the painting did not gather much attention, and was acquired by the Kraków Society of Friends of Fine Arts for a purpose of a gift lottery.[16] It was subsequently won by a certain individual, Korytko, in whose possession it was slightly damaged.[16] Upon Matejko's rise to fame, the painting was rediscovered and applauded as a masterpiece, and acquired by the Warsaw National Museum in 1924.[4][16] During World War II it was looted by the Nazis.[10] It was subsequently seized by the Soviet Union and returned to Poland around 1956.[17]
See also
- Art in Poland
Notes
- ^ Latin for "jesters' society".
- ^ The title erroneously suggests that Poland was at the time ruled by Queen Bona Sforza, when in fact, on 30 July 1514, when Smolensk was lost to Russia, Poland was ruled by King Sigismund the Old and his first wife, Queen Barbara Zápolya.[4] Zápolya was the queen of Poland from 1512 to 1515; Bona Sforza married Sigismund only in 1518.[11] Smolensk was captured in 1514, during the second Muscovite–Lithuanian War.[12]
References
- ^ Artsapien, Team (4 March 2023). "The Court Jester's Lament: An Analysis of Matejko's Stanczyk". Artsapien. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Artsapien, Team (4 March 2023). "The Court Jester's Lament: An Analysis of Matejko's Stanczyk". Artsapien. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p (in Polish) Marek Rezler, Z Matejką przez polskie dzieje: Stańczyk. Interklasa: polski portal edukacyjny. Last accessed on 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n (in Polish) Renata Higersberger, Jan Matejko (1838–1893). Stańczyk, 1862, Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie[dead link]
- ^ The difference between Polish and foreign traditions in this context is discussed in: Hilary Meciszewski (1 May 1844). "Humorystyka". Dwutygodnik Literacki (in Polish) (3). Kraków: 68–74.
- Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe: 200.)
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- ^ Julian Krzyżanowski (1958). "Stańczyk w Janie z Tęczyna Niemcewicza". W wieku Reja i Stańczyka: szkice z dziejów Odrodzenia w Polsce. Państwowe Wydawn. Naukowe. p. 371. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ISBN 978-83-231-1996-8. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ a b Uniwersytet Łódzki (1955). Zeszyty naukowe. Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego: Nauki humanistyczno społeczne. Państowowe Wydawn. Naukowe. p. 131. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-271-01674-0. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-313-33539-6. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ^ Modabber, Ashkan (22 August 2022). "This Isn't a Villain Origin Story, Just a Self-Portrait of a Miserable Painter". Medium. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Artsapien, Team (4 March 2023). "The Court Jester's Lament: An Analysis of Matejko's Stanczyk". Artsapien. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Janina Mazurkiewicz (27 May 2010). "Astronom Kopernik czyli Rozmowa z Bogiem". Biblioteka Uniwersytecka W Toruniu. Muzeum Okręgowe: 3. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ a b c Maria Szypowska (1996). Jan Matejko wszystkim znany (in Polish). Fundacja Artibus-Wurlitzer oraz Wydawn. Domu Słowa Polskiego. p. 85.
- ^ Towarzystwo Historyczne (Lwów, Poland); Polskie Towarzystwo Historyczne; Instytut Historii (Polska Akademia Nauk) (1987). Kwartalnik historyczny. Towarzystwo Historyczne. p. 1045. Retrieved 24 May 2012.