Portrait of Włodzimierz de Rosenwerth Rużycki

Witold Pruszkowski, a pivotal figure in Polish Symbolism, painted this striking portrait of Włodzimierz de Rosenwerth Rużycki in 1865. This early work predates the artist's formal studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, and the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts with Jan Matejko, offering a glimpse into his nascent talent. Pruszkowski, known for his unique color palette and soft focus, would later be celebrated for his evocative depictions of fairy tales, folklore, and scenes inspired by national literature, often imbuing them with a symbolic commentary rather than mere illustration. While he is best known for his Symbolist works, this portrait demonstrates his early command of the genre. The year 1865 places this painting in the midst of his childhood in Odessa and Kiev, before his family emigrated to Dieppe and he relocated to Paris for his first drawing lessons. It's a testament to his early artistic inclination before he fully embraced the Symbolist style that would define his later career, characterized by works like those inspired by Juliusz Słowacki's 'Anhelli' or his famous 'March to Siberia'.