1888
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Museum in Kraków
Study for the Horse of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas for the Painting "The Battle of Grunwald" is a 1888 oil by Jan Matejko, held at National Museum in Kraków.
This painting shows a horse's head and neck, with its mane flowing in the wind. The horse is depicted in a dynamic pose, with its head turned to the left and its ears perked up. The horse's coat is rendered in dark brown and gray tones, with subtle highlights that suggest the play of light on its fur. The background of the painting is a muted brown color, which helps to focus attention on the horse's expressive features. The level of detail and realism in this painting is impressive, suggesting a high degree of skill and craftsmanship on the part of the artist. For more information on the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up chiaroscuro.
Jan Alojzy Matejko (Polish pronunciation: ; also known as Jan Mateyko; 24 June 1838 – 1 November 1893) was a Polish painter, a leading 19th-century exponent of history painting, known for depicting nodal events from Polish history.
See the richer artist page
