Wojciech KOSSAK (1856-1942), Head of a horse, 1941

oil, cardboard, 33.5 x 29.5 cm,
Signed p.d.: Wojciech Kossak 1941
On the reverse, wax seal with the Kos coat of arms and author's inscription in ink: I affirm my signature / Wojciech Kossak.

Painter, outstanding creator of battle paintings. He was born in Paris. Initially he was educated by his father Juliusz. In 1871-1873 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, from 1873 he continued his studies at the Munich academy, and in 1877 he supplemented his studies in Paris in the studio of L. Bonnat. He spent the next ten years in Cracow. Between 1895 and 1902 he worked in Berlin, where Emperor Wilhelm II, highly appreciating Kossak's work, assigned him a studio in his Monbijou Castle. In 1902 he returned to Krakow, but continued to leave the country frequently. In 1915 he was appointed professor of battle painting at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. He created battle scenes, historical scenes, genre scenes and did portrait painting. In his work he was inspired by the paintings of his father and Jozef Brandt, from whom he took over his fondness for historical-patriotic and battle themes. He is the co-author of panoramas: "Raclawice", "Berezina", "Grochów", "Battle of Pyramids". The artist was always held in high esteem, numerous awards and prizes testify to the successes achieved not only at home, but also abroad, in 1901 he was awarded the French Legion of Honor.