Felix SZYNALEWSKI (1825-1892), The Virgin, 1881

lithograph, paper, 24 x 17 cm (in light of binding), signed and dated on plate p.d.: FSzynalewski 81
The work was made especially for a portfolio published by the Artistic and Literary Circle in Cracow in 1881, whose purpose was to collect funds for the reconstruction of the Croatian capital Zagreb, affected by the earthquake a year earlier. The lithograph was made in1881 at Aureliusz Pruszyński's Artistic Lithography Workshop in Krakow, 17 Pijarska Street, established in 1873. Many artists, including L. Wyczółkowski, were able to make their own prints here.
Feliks Szynalewski (11.05.1825 Krakow - 12.03.1892 Krakow) painter, also draughtsman and graphic artist. From 1841 to 1843 he studied at the School of Drawing and Painting (SRiM) at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (continuing it from 1845 to 1850) and earning his living by lithography, in 1844 he went to Warsaw, where he took a job at Franciszek Szustr's lithographic workshop. From 1845 in Krakow teaching drawing and at the same time producing numerous drawings, lithographs and oil paintings. In 1852-1854 he studied at the Vienna academy. From 1854 he exhibited religious paintings at the TPSP in Cracow, while in 1857 he became an assistant at the SRiM, also working in this capacity after its transformation into the School of Fine Arts (SSP) in 1873 until 1890, he continued to create lithographs including those on numismatic subjects of his collection in this field. His painting oeuvre also included portraits (also in drawing), watercolors including miniatures; see Polski słownik biograficzny (PSB) vol. 50 pp. 311-312.