Signed l.d.: J.M.K.; signed p.d.: J. Męcina Krzesz
On the reverse, on the crossbar of the loom, a sticker of the Poznań Art Salon; also, on the top bar of the loom, the number (in blue crayon): 17594; on the left loom strip a sticker of an auction house in Warsaw.
Jozef Męcina-Krzesz studied at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow between 1877 and 1884, where he was a student of Jan Matejko from 1882. In 1884, for his painting Battle of Orsha, he received a scholarship for further studies in Paris, where he left in 1885. He studied at the school of J.P. Laurens, establishing many contacts with French artists. In 1888-1892 he exhibited his works at official Salons, and in 1889 he received a mention honorable for Portrait of E. Chojecki. He made illustrations for the magazines "Ilustration" and "Figaro Illustré." He traveled a lot - he was in Italy, Mona-chium, Dresden and London. In 1894 he returned to Krakow. From 1914 to 1916 he was in Prague, and in 1921 he moved to Poznan. In his early period, influenced by Matejko, he painted mainly historical paintings, later also genre and religious scenes (the series Our Father) and numerous portraits. He participated in many exhibitions at home and abroad (including Paris, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Budapest and Berlin).
