DOI Heft:
Nr. 4
DOI Artikel:Poprzęcka, Maria: "And I still see their faces": on Jan Matejko's Physiognomies
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18938#0107
5. Jan Matejko, '.■ The Bałtłe of Grunwald, 1878, detail: Grand Master Ulric von Jungingen,
Warsaw, Muzeum Narodowe
(e. g. by Józef Kremer"), but there is no reason for tracing philosophical foundations in the
widespread convictions that Matejko shared. The 'zoomorphic' character of some of Matejko's
faces may be a good example. Apparently, the transformation of faces at Matejko's late stage,
described by Witkiewicz, is one from 'birdlike' types, dominating before (Skarga, Fig. 1, Za-
moyski, Fig. 2, Possewin) to lion-like ones, frequent in the Grunwald (Figs. 4—5) and the Re-
tinue of Polish Kings. Nothing of it, howevcr, goes beyond a painter's transposition of custo-
mary comparisons and associative habits, rooted in metaphorical language. Our interest here
focuses on Matejko's use of these accepted tropes in his art.
37. J. Kremer, Wykład systematyczny filozofii obejmujący wszystkie jej części to zarysie (Systematic Exposition of Philosophy
Embracing an Oulline of all its Parts), II, Filozofia natury i ducha ludzkiego (The Philosophy of Humań Naturę and Spirit),
Warszawa, 1877, p. 259 and ff.
93
Warsaw, Muzeum Narodowe
(e. g. by Józef Kremer"), but there is no reason for tracing philosophical foundations in the
widespread convictions that Matejko shared. The 'zoomorphic' character of some of Matejko's
faces may be a good example. Apparently, the transformation of faces at Matejko's late stage,
described by Witkiewicz, is one from 'birdlike' types, dominating before (Skarga, Fig. 1, Za-
moyski, Fig. 2, Possewin) to lion-like ones, frequent in the Grunwald (Figs. 4—5) and the Re-
tinue of Polish Kings. Nothing of it, howevcr, goes beyond a painter's transposition of custo-
mary comparisons and associative habits, rooted in metaphorical language. Our interest here
focuses on Matejko's use of these accepted tropes in his art.
37. J. Kremer, Wykład systematyczny filozofii obejmujący wszystkie jej części to zarysie (Systematic Exposition of Philosophy
Embracing an Oulline of all its Parts), II, Filozofia natury i ducha ludzkiego (The Philosophy of Humań Naturę and Spirit),
Warszawa, 1877, p. 259 and ff.
93