Wojciech GERSON (1831-1901), "Three illustrations to The Tale of the Iron Wolf by Antoni Tchaikovsky", 1854

Pencil, watercolor, white gouache, brown paper,
Dimensions: (1) 20 x 17 cm, (2) 20 x 23 cm, (3) - drawing of irregular shape, closed semicircular - 20 x 20 cm,
unsigned; markings: on drawing (1) lower left, date: 1854; on the right, pencil inscription: to the fairy tale of the Iron Wolf; on drawing (2) lower right, date: 1854; on the back of drawing (3), pencil inscription: (illust)raction to "The Tale of the / Iron Wolf" / W. Gerson / years 1850-55; parallel to the side edges, a difficult-to-read inscription in copy pencil probably applied by the bookbinder.
Opinion of Wacława Milewska, art historian, Krakow, 25. 04. 2017.
Drawings from the collection of Henryk Bednarski (1907-1991), a prominent Lviv collector and bibliophile, author of texts on art, architecture and archaeology, living in Krakow after the war. In the collector's catalog, item no. 190.

In the conclusion of her detailed and thorough analysis of the opinionated drawings, Waclawa Milewska states almost with certainty that the presented works are the work of Wojciech Gerson. The works were created when the artist was a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg (1853-1855). According to the author's opinion, Gerson's authorship is indicated by the technical means used, the artist's illustration practice, the fantasy-folk theme (the tale is based on a communal tale), and the addressing of the work to a young audience: "Gerson, possessing, in addition to his artistic talent, unparalleled pedagogical skills, appreciated the value of educating the youngest generation." Also attributed to Gerson by the author of the opinion are the inscriptions on the backs of two drawings - these are, in figure no. 1, the date: "1854" and the inscription: "to the fairy tale of the iron wolf", and in drawing No. 2 the date "1854". The opinion writer notes that the inscriptions are faded, but legible enough to compare with those on other drawings by the artist.




Wojciech GERSON (1831-1901)
Prominent Polish painter, illustrator, educator, art critic, animator of artistic life. From 1844 to 1850 he studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, where he joined a group of artists centered around Marcin Olszynski. He continued his studies at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts (1853-1855). In 1856-1858 he supplemented his studies in Paris in the studio of L. Cogniet. Upon his return to Warsaw, he organized an atelier for artists gathered around him, with whom he jointly prepared the National Exhibition of Fine Arts, in time transformed into the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts. In 1872-1896 he was the main professor of the Drawing Class (School) in Warsaw. From 1867 he taught privately in his studio. He educated many outstanding painters, his students included K. Alchimowicz, J. Chelmonski, A. Kedzierski, A. Wierusz-Kowalski, S. Maslowski, E. Okuń, J. Pankiewicz, W. Podkowiński, J. Stanislawski, L. Wyczółkowski. Gerson practiced all painting techniques, with rare attempts at lithography. He painted genre scenes, maintained in a strongly realistic convention, but did not shy away from sentimentalism and idyllicity. He created historical and religious compositions, portraits, and landscapes, especially Tatra landscapes, which are often considered the crowning achievement of his work.