Wernyhora - Jan Matejko
Archival giclée
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Description
A dramatic historical composition by Jan Matejko depicting the legendary seer Wernyhora in a moment of visionary prophecy.
Jan Matejko, a central figure in nineteenth-century Polish art, produced this work depicting the legendary Ukrainian seer Wernyhora. The composition captures the prophet in a moment of intense visionary experience, surrounded by figures who record his utterances. Matejko employs a dramatic, theatrical arrangement of characters, typical of his large-scale historical canvases. The central figure of Wernyhora is rendered with a sense of urgency, his hand raised as if to ward off or beckon a spectral presence.
Surrounding the prophet are various individuals, including a scribe documenting the prophecy and a young child in the foreground, providing a contrast between the weight of history and the innocence of youth. The lighting is focused, creating deep shadows that heighten the emotional tension of the scene. Matejko was known for his meticulous attention to costume and period detail, which is evident in the varied attire of the figures present. The work reflects the artist's preoccupation with Polish history and the national identity of the region during a period of political fragmentation.
This print captures the monochromatic quality of the original study or reproduction, allowing the viewer to focus on the composition and the expressive gestures of the subjects. The inclusion of bats in the upper left corner adds an atmospheric, almost gothic quality to the scene, reinforcing the supernatural nature of the prophecy. Matejko's ability to organise complex groups of figures into a coherent narrative is evident here, as each character occupies a specific role within the unfolding drama. The work remains a significant example of the artist's ability to translate folklore and historical myth into visual form, maintaining a balance between realism and the symbolic nature of the subject matter.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Wernyhora - Jan Matejko
Artist Biography
Jan Matejko
Matejko was born in Krakow in 1838 to a Czech father and a half-German, half-Polish mother. Despite being only one-quarter Polish by blood, his household was fiercely patriotic: Polish books, portraits of Polish heroes, and a brother who followed General Jozef Bem into the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 (and died in battle). He enrolled at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts at fourteen, studying under Wojciech Stattler. He never mastered a foreign language and struggled even with Polish, which made the public appearances demanded of him throughout his career an ordeal.
His ambition was to paint Polish history on a monumental scale. Stanczyk (1862) showed the royal jester alone with the news of a military defeat, a painting that reads as an editorial cartoon stretched to the size of a wall. Battle of Grunwald (1878) and Rejtan (1866) followed, each canvas an argument about national identity dressed as historical spectacle. Wilhelm von Kaulbach's method of "historical symbolism", which prioritised interpretation over documentary accuracy, shaped Matejko's approach. His brother Franciszek, a historian at the Jagiellonian Library, fed him archival detail.
As director of the Krakow School of Fine Arts, he trained over eighty students. Maurycy Gottlieb, Jacek Malczewski, Jozef Mehoffer and Stanislaw Wyspianski all passed through his studio; several became leading figures in the Young Poland movement, earning Matejko the title "Father of Young Poland". In 1887 he attended the opening of Queen Jadwiga's sarcophagus to sketch her skull for a portrait. He died in 1893, aged fifty-five.
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