Stanislaw Bagienski (1876 Warsaw - 1948 there), Malachowski's cuirassier

oil, canvas, 54 × 43 cm
signed p. d.: "S.Bagieński"

on the loom stamp: "ST. KRAWCZYŃSKI PRZYBORY ARTYSTYCZNE MALARSKIE Nowy Świat 29 róg Chmielnej".

Reproduced:
Album of Polish Painters, published by Meduza, Warsaw, No. 3 (postcard), il.1.

The figure depicted is a cuirassier of the 14th Malachowski Cuirassier Regiment. It was the only cuirassier cavalry regiment in Polish history. It was formed on September 1, 1809 at the estate of Colonel Stanislaw hr. Malachowski in Konskie, initially as the 1st Cuirassier Regiment. On December 4, 1809, the unit arrived in Warsaw, numbering 610 soldiers. At the time, it aroused the interest of the population, bringing to mind the traditions of the Polish hussars. Maintaining the regiment was costly, so several attempts were made to reorganize it - a royal decree of November 21, 1810 provided for reformation into a regiment of mounted riflemen. Prince Joseph Poniatowski proposed its reorganization into a regiment of dragoons. On May 12, 1812, the regiment set out with Napoleon for the war against Russia. The 14th Cuirassier Regiment also took part in battles at Friedland (August 17, 1813), Pittersbach (August 20, 1813), Krakau (August 24, 1813), Strohweide (September 6, 1813), Weida (October 4, 1813) and Leipzig (October 19, 1813), among others.