Bolesław SZAŃKOWSKI (1873- 1953), Portrait of a Woman

Oil canvas: 79.5 x 63 cm
Signed l. d.: Szańkowski

Outstanding portrait painter, highly regarded both in Europe and abroad.
Studied at the School of Fine Arts in Krakow under the direction of Jan Matejko, and
later trained at the Academy of Munich and at the Académie Paris
Colarossi and Académie Julian, where his teachers included Benjamin Constant and
Anton de la Gandara.
He lived and worked in Paris for thirteen years. He specialized in painting
portraits, immortalizing the aristocracy, royal families and prominent figures of
of his time - including Kaiser Wilhelm II, Czar Nicholas II, Ignacy
Paderewski, as well as representatives of the Radziwill and Potocki families. In his
works also often featured images of elegant ladies and portraits of
children, including the artist's daughters Ada and Helena.
Szańkowski made numerous artistic trips to Belgium, France, Scotland and England. After the First
World War I he also stayed in the United States. He permanently settled in
Munich, where he continued his artistic activities until his death.
He participated in exhibitions in Germany, Austria and Poland, gaining recognition
both among the public and critics. His oeuvre is a significant contribution to the
development of European portrait painting at the turn of the 20th century.