Jan Matejko(1838-1893), Michal Sędziwój,1876

woodcut, paper, 20 x 34 cm in light passe-partout size 32 x 46 cm; signed by the xylographer "J.Styfi"The graphic comes from the "Album of Jan Matejko" published in 1876 by S. Leventhal. The drawings on woodcut plates were personally made by Jan Matejko, engraved by the most outstanding wood engravers of the time.Salomon (Franciszek Salezy) Lewental (1841-1902) - Warsaw publisher and bookseller, founder of the weekly newspaper "Kłosy".Lewental wrote in his afterword: "The album included the most exquisite paintings of the master, made in recent times; with the exception of reproductions of Rejtan, Ivan the Terrible and the Bard of the Lyricist, reproduced most faithfully by Messrs. Maszyński and Witkiewicz, according to photographs taken from the originals, all other works were drawn on wood by Matejko himself " [...] the execution of each such woodcut, such as. Stefan Batory, Sejm in Lublin , et.al. required six months of time each, not counting the time used to draw them on wood [...].Jan Matejko's painting focuses on the person of the Polish alchemist and physician Michał Sędziwoj. He was a graduate of the Academy of Krakow, engaged in natural sciences and alchemy, and wrote a treatise on the philosopher's stone. Among other things, he became famous for his alleged ability to transform base metals into gold, which reportedly involved deftly removing silver previously applied to a nugget of gold and demonstrating it as transformed from silver. In 1595, the scientist was appointed personal secretary by King Sigismund III Vasa, so from then on he conducted research at Wawel Castle.