Jan SKOTNICKI

FIELD MASS BEFORE THE BITTER OF RAFAJOLOWA, 1915 Oil, cardboard; 67.5 x 94 cm

Signed underneath: Jan Skotnicki 1915

Asking price 5000

Estimate 7000 - 8000

On the reverse, inscription in pencil: Battle of Raphaelowa, further part of the inscription crossed out, and sticker filled in pen Jan Skotnicki | No. 102 Feldmesse

Jan SKOTNICKI

1876 Bobrowniki - 1968 Podkowa Leśna

Painter and graphic artist. He continued his artistic education, which began at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts (1897), at the St. Petersburg Academy under Jan Ciągliński and Leon Bakst (1898-99 and 1903-04), and from 1899-1903 at the Cracow Academy of Fine Arts under Jacek Malczewski, Teodor Axentowicz and Jozef Mehoffer, as well as in Paris at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere (1904-1905). He fought in the Legions. He painted legendary-historical scenes maintained in the spirit of Young Poland, legion scenes, as well as landscapes and portraits. A member of the Podhale Art Society, and after World War II - a member of the "Zachęta" society. Director of the Art Department at the Ministry of Art.

On the night of January 23-24, 1915, the Russian army launched an attack on the legionnaires' positions near the village of Rafaylov, located in the Gorgany mountain range. The Poles, although surprised, repelled the Russian attack, preventing the enemy from seizing the Rogodze Wielkie Pass, including the so-called Legion Road. The third on the left in the painting is Major Boleslaw Roja, who commanded the Legionnaires in this battle.