Sketch of a man’s head (type of Sigismund II Augustus)

Sketching is a technique that assists the artist before transferring a full composition to canvas. It gives the possibility of multiple attempts before it finally becomes a painting element. Matejko's titanic work on huge canvases was preceded by an effort of preparation, passion in looking at old paintings and humility towards his skills.

Artistic workshop is the basis necessary for telling stories so rich in the number of people depicted. At the same time, Matejko was criticised already during his lifetime for his anachronism in composing on canvas figures that could not meet. He subordinated his painting to the interpretation of history.

One of the most important elements of Matejko's paintings were the hands - a part of the body which, like the face, allows the expression of emotions. For the artist, the hand is a creative tool, in the painting gestures and facial expressions work together to tell a story. The sketch of the male head has this coherence, the gesture of the hand resting on the head and the furrowed eyebrows enhance the expression of the figure. The king is depicted in a similar pose in the painting Zygmunt August w ogrodzie wileńskim [Zygmunt August in the Garden of Vilnius].

Matejko learnt some principles which he later strictly adhered to, namely [...] faithfulness to the drawing, truth in rendering the painted object and accurate and very conscientious finishing of the whole picture, as Professor Stattler always required.

Klara Sadkowska