Career
He is called The Elder to distinguish him from Józef Brodowski (1828-1900), who was apparently not related. Thanks to the financial support of Princess Izabela Czartoryska, he was able to study in Vienna with Josef Abel and Johann Baptist von Lampi. After 1805, he lived in Łańcut, where he painted portraits and theatrical scenery.
In 1811, he was appointed a drawing teacher.
Seven years later, he became one of the first professors at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts. He painted historical scenes, genre works, church decorations and portraits.
Several of his history paintings involve scenes from the life of Tadeusz Kościuszko.