Jan Chelminski, KIRASJER OF THE 14th PUŁK OF THE ARMY OF THE WARSAW PRINCE, ca. 1913

37,3 x 25,1cm - watercolor, gouache, cardboard

Signed p.d.: Jan V. Chelminski

On the reverse, along the lower edge, no. (in blue crayon): E74; above (in pencil): [.] 14; in addition, on the so-called "clasp", a sticker with a dedication in English (in ink): ORIGINAL WATER COLOR OF CUIRASSIER | BY CHELMINSKI. PURCHASED IN PARIS 1935 | With luck to the new home | [signature] | Sept 1949.

The 14th Cuirassier Regiment was the only Polish cuirassier regiment and the last to use cuirassiers - armor protecting the corps. Formed on September 1, 1809 in Konskie by Colonel Stanislaw hr. Malachowski, it was originally called the 1st Cuirassier Regiment. Since January 18, 1813, Colonel Kazimierz Dziekoński took command of the unit. The uniform of this regiment was similar to that of the French cuirassiers, except for the yellow and gold buttons and ornaments, which in the French cuirassiers were white and silver. On May 12, 1812, the regiment set out with Napoleon for the war against Russia. Thanks to the charge of the Polish cuirassiers at Mozhaisk (September 7, 1812), the road to Moscow was opened. The unit also fought in the battles of: Friedland - August 17, 1813, Pittersbach - August 20, Krakau - August 24, Strohweide - September 6, Weida - October 4, Leipzig - October 19.

Bibliography:

- B. Gembarzewski, Rodowody pułków polskich i oddziałów równorzędnych od r. 1717 do r. 1831, Warsaw 1925, p. 62.

Jan Chelminski (Brzustow near Opoczno 1851 - New York 1925) popular painter from the circle of "Polish Munich painters", began his education with Juliusz Kossak, and then studied at the Warsaw Drawing Class and in Munich - at the Academy under Alexander Strähuber and Alexander Wagner (1873-1875) and in the private studios of Jozef Brandt (1875) and the batalist Franz Adam (1876). After his studies he was already permanently abroad - in Munich, London (years 1882, 1888-1899), Paris (1899), traveled to St. Petersburg (1889) and New York (1884), where he later settled permanently around 1915. However, he did not break contacts with the country, and often sent his works to Warsaw exhibitions. His paintings enjoyed great success. He painted mainly military and battle scenes, most often from the times of the Duchy of Warsaw and the Napoleonic Wars, as well as genre paintings and hunting episodes. He was involved in book illustration; among other things, he illustrated a volume of hunting stories by Theodore Roosevelt. He was a collector of old weapons and an outstanding expert on soldier uniforms. Many of the artist's paintings are still abroad - in England, Germany or the United States. Few of them appear in antiquarian sales, constantly arousing keen interest among collectors.