Artwork
King Jadwiga Distributung Bread to the Poor
King Jadwiga Distributung Bread to the Poor is an unspecified painting by Maksymilian Cercha. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
King Jadwiga Distributing Bread to the Poor is a painting created in 1853 by Maksymilian Cercha, a 19th-century Polish artist. The work is part of the National Museum in Kraków's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a scene of charity, focusing on Jadwiga, the medieval Polish monarch, dispensing bread to the needy. The composition conveys a sense of reverence and gratitude, particularly through the depiction of an elderly, kneeling recipient.
Technique & Style
The painting features a prominent use of color in the subject's attire (red jacket and blue skirt) and employs dramatic lighting effects, suggestive of chiaroscuro techniques commonly used to create depth and emotional emphasis.
History & Provenance
Maksymilian Cercha, nephew of Ezechiel Cercha and father of Stanisław Cercha, both artists, created this work in 1853. It is currently housed in the National Museum in Kraków.
Context
While specific contextual influences on the piece are not detailed, its themes and style reflect a blend of historical representation and artistic traditions of the 19th century, possibly aligning with contemporary interests in national heritage and social compassion.
Legacy
Information on the painting's direct impact or legacy in the broader art historical canon is not provided, though it remains a documented work within Maksymilian Cercha's oeuvre and the holdings of the National Museum in Kraków.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Maximilian (also spelled Maksymilian) Cercha (1818–1907) was a Polish painter and drawer. He was the nephew of Ezechiel Cercha (1790–1820) and the father of Stanisław Cercha (1867–1919).
