Wilhelm Kotarbiński was a Polish painter whose work encompassed the movements of academicism, romanticism, symbolism, and Art Nouveau. He was born in November 1848 in Nieborów, into a family of Polish nobility. His works, often referencing ancient themes, were compared to the creations of Henryk Siemiradzki, and the artist gained recognition in important museums in Poland and around the world, such as the National Museum in Warsaw and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
Kotarbiński began his artistic education in the Drawing Class in Warsaw under the guidance of Rafał Hadziewicz and then continued his studies at the Academy of St. Luke in Rome, where he learned under Francesco Podesti. After his studies, he settled in Rome, where, in difficult material conditions, he created paintings on ancient themes. His works gained acclaim, with early patrons including Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer and collector Władysław Kościelski.
In 1888, the artist settled in Kyiv, where he married and started a family. He worked on frescoes for churches and cathedrals, including large projects in St. Volodymyr's Cathedral, where he collaborated with leading Russian painters. In Kyiv, he was also a co-founder of the Society of Kyiv Painters and the Society of South Russian Painters, and his works became popular among artistic and political elites.
His later years were marked by difficulties, including political upheavals related to the revolutions in Russia and Ukraine. Despite his successes, he died in obscurity and poverty, leaving behind an artistic legacy that has endured to this day. Wilhelm Kotarbiński passed away on September 4, 1921, in Kyiv. Today, he is remembered as one of the significant representatives of 19th-century Polish art, whose works continue to fascinate art lovers around the world.