Rural scene with shepherdess and cows was executed in 1888 by Antoni Jezierski (1859-1939), famous Polish painter, member of the “Munich School”. 1890/91 student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.

Jezierski, Antoni, Polish painter, member of the “Munich School”. 1890/91 student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. *May 22, 1859 Ihrowica (today Ihrowyzja/Ukraine) near Ternopil, †January 9, 1939 Lwów (today Lviv). He began his studies at the Art Academy in Lemberg (now Lviv), which he graduated in 1876. 1878-82 and 1884-87 he studied at the School of Drawing and Painting/Szkoła Rysunku i Malarstwa in Kraków. Thanks to a scholarship, he was able to travel to Italy, where he copied paintings and frescoes and stayed in Vienna on the way back. With the help of another scholarship, he goes to Munich. On October 20, 1890, he entered the painting school of the history painter Sándor (Alexander von) Wagner (1838-1919) at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. After his return in 1891, he settled in Podolia and lived in Zbaraż (today Sbarasch/Ukraine) in 1891/92, in Żerebki in 1892/93, in Sieniawa near Rzeszów in 1894-99, in Załuźe near Zbaraż in 1899-1902 and 1905 and then based in Kołomyja (today Kolomyja/Ukraine). – In his early days, J. painted historical pictures under the influence of the leading teacher at the Krakow Art School, Jan Matejko (1838-1893). He also creates portraits and genre paintings from rural and church life (see cover photo). Since his time in Munich he has freed himself from Matejko's influence and found his own style. This is characterized by careful drawing, a wealth of detail and a realism that sometimes borders on caricature in the depiction of simple people. He creates religious depictions for the churches in Zbaraż and Podwołoczyska (today Pidwolotschysk/Ukraine).

Exhibitions: 1884-94 Kraków, 1902/03 Lviv: Society of Friends of Fine Arts/Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuk Pięknych

Literature:  in German: Thieme/Becker, Leipzig, 1999; in Polish: Halina Stępień/Maria Liczbińska: Artyści polscy w środowisku monachijskim w latach 1828-1914. Materiały źródłowe, Warsaw 1994, pages 17, 43; Słownik Artystów Polskich i Obcych w Polsce Działających (zmarłych przed 1966 r.), Warsaw 2003; Zbigniew Fałtynowicz/Eliza Ptaszyńska: Malarze polscy w Monachium/Polish painters in Munich, exhibition catalog Muzeum Okre̜gowe w Suwałkach, Suwałki 2005, page 83; Biography in the Internet Archive, (Auction House Ostoya/Dom aukcyjny Ostoya, Warsaw, 2013/14).

Inscription: signed and dated 1888 lower left.

Technique:  oil on wood.  Original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed w 12 5/8 " x h 9 1/4" (32 x 23,5 cm), framed w 19 1/4" x h 16 1/8" (49 x 41 cm)

Condition: in  good condition.