Tadeusz AJDUKIEWICZ, PORTRET OF A MAN

Oil, board, 22.5 x 17.5 cm, signed l.d.: Tadeusz Ajdukiewicz.

Tadeusz Ajdukiewicz was an artist associated with the patronage of the aristocracy and the ruling courts; in these circles he made a real career, and his paintings were widely liked. He began his studies in painting at the School of Fine Arts in Cracow. Later, he continued his education in Vienna and in Munich - at the Academy and in the studio of Jozef Brandt. After his studies, he traveled around Polish borderland manors for several years and painted portraits. Around 1877 he left for Paris, from where, together with Władysław Branicki, he went on a - important for his future work - trip to the Middle East. Around 1882, he settled in Vienna and took over the studio left behind by Hans Makart, painting for the imperial court and the aristocracy. In 1893 he played in London, where, among other things, he portrayed the Prince of Wales; in 1894 he worked at the Sultan's court in Constantinople, then also in Sofia, St. Petersburg and Bucharest. He settled in Romania for a longer period as court painter to Charles I. After the outbreak of World War I, he returned to the country and, despite his old age, enlisted in the Legions. He died, having failed to endure the hardships of war. He painted primarily portraits - both representative, showy and elegant (Portrait of Helena Modrzejewska, MNK), as well as modest and intimate ones. He also created hunting scenes, eastern-themed paintings, heroic battle scenes, revues and army reviews (Review of the Romanian Army, 1896).