Józef Brandt (b.1841 Szczebrzeszyn - d.1915 Radom) | 5123

Józef Brandt was a prominent Polish painter, known primarily as a representative of the Munich School and as a creator of battle scenes. He was born in 1841 into a wealthy family of Warsaw doctors. After completing his secondary education in 1858, he began studying at the École des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris, where, influenced by Juliusz Kossak, he decided to pursue an artistic career.

In 1862, he moved to Munich, where he honed his craft in the studios of renowned painters, including Léon Cogniet and Franz Adam. He quickly gained recognition in the artistic community, and his works, such as "Chodkiewicz pod Chocimem" and "The Battle of Vienna," received significant awards and critical acclaim. In the 1870s and 1880s, Brandt became the leader of the Polish artistic colony in Munich, where he supported young artists and ran an informal painting school.

His work encompassed not only battle scenes but also genre paintings, hunting scenes, and those inspired by rural life, often featuring horses. Brandt painted with passion, paying tribute to Poland's knightly past and depicting everyday life in Ukraine and Podolia. His works are characterized by dynamic compositions and a vibrant color palette that conveys movement and emotion.

Although his work was appreciated both at home and abroad, in his later years, Brandt began to fall into artistic routine, which affected the quality of his works. Brandt passed away on June 12, 1905, in Radom, leaving behind a significant legacy, and his paintings, including those on hunting themes, are still valued today for their rich detail and ability to capture the atmosphere of the eras they depict.