Description:
Jan Matejko (1838-1893) exhibited in Paris, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Rome, Munich, London, Hamburg, Brussels, Brno and Chicago, since 1854 his works have also appeared every year at the Krakow TPSP exhibition. He was often awarded. He was a member of the Académie de Beaux-Arts in Paris. He was the director of the SSP in Krakow. Member of the Academy in Urbino and Berlin Academy of Arts. In 1875 in Krakow he was given a special gold medal, funded by public donations, and in 1878 he received a symbolic scepter as a sign of mastery in art. In 1887 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Jagiellonian University. He was appreciated both abroad and by his contemporary Poles. He believed in and practiced art serving the nation and homeland, which was based on the preceding creative act of thorough historical studies. This stance was mainly shaped under the influence of Józef Szujski, one of the creators of the Krakow historical school, co-author of the “Teka Stańczyka”, publicist and writer. In the works of Jan Matejko we find a historiosophic message and an overly dramatic, theatrical vision of history.

The Fundacja im. Raczyńskich at the MNP has two paintings by Jan Matejko, one of them is the somewhat forgotten work of the master – “Spór małżeński Gryfiny z Leszkiem Czarnym”. It was purchased by Raczyński in 1905. It depicts a quarrel between a woman and a man in the presence of court and knight representatives. Gryfina was the daughter of Rościsław, the prince of Halicz and Czernichów. Leszek Czarny, on the other hand, was the prince of Sieradz, whom Bolesław the Humble adopted. The marriage had no offspring, for which the wife blamed her impotent husband. For a while, from 1271 to 1274, they separated. Treatments were attempted, unfortunately in vain.

Description of the painting:
Matejko depicted a unique moment of dispute, in which Gryfina returns the marital cap held by her in her left hand to Leszek. She wants to put the maiden wreath back on her head, which is already being lifted by the accompanying lady-in-waiting of the princess. The prince, on the other hand, sits lost in thought. He does not even look in the direction of his wife. He seems to be carefully listening to the words spoken by the older man leaning over him. The painter has presented a double dramatic and expressive scene in its message. Bolesław the Shy was the last of the Małopolska Piast line. Together with his wife Kinga, they took vows of chastity. They did not have a male offspring, so they decided to adopt Leszek the Black. Unfortunately, history showed that he also died without a rightful heir, and for reasons completely beyond his control.