„So Follow My Example, be Heartened by My Work...”

Words addressed to the students of Cracow Fine Arts School in 1883 by the artist became an inspiration
to raise a subject of work ethos in the life of Jan Matejko. Matejko, the most eminent Polish historical
painter thanks to his talent and knowledge about the reality of epochs which he portrayed, captured
historical imagination of the Poles determining the artistic shape of our history.
Matejko is the author of more than three hundred twenty oil paintings, several thousand drawing
sketches, a couple of hundred projects of the polychrome, stained glass, altars and statues. He was a „Titan”,
not only artist. His paintings received the most prestigious awards. Also honorary memberships of
the European artistic associations were bestowed on him. In 1873 Matejko took the management of Cracow
Fine Arts School, he was in charge of it for 20 next years. He also succeeded in the field of saving the
Cracow historical treasure and managing the organization of the National Museum in Cracow. His active
life, not only artistic, aroused interest among researchers. Matejko’s attitude to the creative work and his
talent, his seeking motivation for the work, sources of the inspiration and the influence of his outlook on
the world will be depicted in the light of letter-writing and memoirs sources.