Signed l.d.: Tadeusz Rybkowski | Wien 1885.
On the reverse, centrally stamped by J. v. Meiller, Vienna store of painting implements; l.g. no. (in pencil): 6 [in circle]; also, on the frame p.g. a sticker with a description of the painting (in ink): Fa[...] | in Russisch Polen | gemalt von Thaddeuss | Rybkowski; l.d. stickers of an auction house in Vienna.
Compare with:
- "Die Gartenlaube", Leipzig 1891, notebook 6., pp. 99-100, il. s. 96-97
The illustrated magazine "Die Gartenlaube" in 1891 included a woodcut reproduction of a later version of the Carnival sleigh ride, painted by Tadeusz Rybkowski. It served as an illustration for a short article introducing readers to the custom of organizing sleigh rides during Shrove Tuesday, which was already dying out at the time. The Polish custom at the end of the carnival was to organize, by the richest landowner in the area, a sleigh ride. The landowner would look for two handsome young men who were also good horsemen, commission them to hire a band of musicians who would merrily play in the first sleigh. The sleigh would then begin its merry ride from house to house gathering guests and feasting. In this way the sleigh ride grew, often to forty or fifty sleighs. Two stewards riding in front of the musical sleighs made sure that the merry ride did not leave the landowner's estate. The most beautiful couple in the company was proclaimed the bride and groom and the party turned into their wedding, so to speak. The bride and groom played the most distinguished role. Finally, the cavalcade entered the rich man's estate, where the real carnival fun began, which lasted until Ash Wednesday.
Tadeusz Rybkowski (Kielce 1848 - Lviv 1926) Tadeusz Rybkowski began his studies in painting under Wladyslaw Luszczkiewicz at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow. Then, in 1875-1877, he studied in Vienna - at the Academy of Fine Arts and in the studios of Leopold Loeffler and Hans Makart. He stayed in Vienna for a long time, traveling from there to Italy, Munich, Dresden and Berlin. In 1893 he settled permanently in Lviv; he established a private painting school for women, and also taught at the State Industrial School. He painted in oil and watercolor, mainly genre scenes - hunting, fairs, markets. He was interested in Hutsul folklore, engaged in mural painting, made illustrations for magazines.
