Władysław Jagiełło and Vytautas praying before the battle of Grunwald (1855) Art Print | Jan Matejko

Jan Matejko was one of Poland’s most celebrated painters, best known for his monumental historical canvases that captured the spirit, triumphs, and struggles of the Polish nation. Deeply patriotic, he dedicated his life to portraying pivotal events and figures from Poland’s past, using art as both storytelling and cultural preservation during a time when the country faced political partitions.

Matejko studied at the Kraków School of Fine Arts, later becoming its director and shaping a generation of Polish artists. His most famous works include The Battle of Grunwald (1878), Rejtan (1866), and The Constitution of May 3, 1791 (1891). These massive, richly detailed canvases combined dramatic composition with painstaking historical accuracy, often drawing from his own extensive research and costume collections.

Beyond history painting, he also produced a renowned series of portraits of Polish kings, which remain iconic symbols of national identity. His art was widely recognized across Europe, earning him acclaim but also criticism for his sometimes theatrical style.

Today, Matejko is revered as a guardian of Polish heritage, whose works remain central to Poland’s cultural memory and national pride.