Education
1894-1897 studied in Ilya Repin’s studio
1894-1897 studied in Ilya Repin’s studio
K.Stabrowski was born into agentry family of Antoni Stabrowski and Sofia Pilecka in the Krupliany estate ofthe Hrodna Region (now in the Karelichi district of the Hrodna Region). Hestudied at Bialystok ‘real’ (non-classical)gymnasium in 1880– 1887. Having finished it, he entered St. Petersburg Academyof Arts, where he studied successfully and was many times awarded medals fordrawings and paintings. The seriousness of his attitude towards painting isdemonstrated by the fact that he travelled to Palestinein order to collect materials for his diploma work. He visited Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
From that time on, he ‘becameinfected’ with travelling to exotic countries, which he undertook whenever hecould afford it. The young artist’s talent and diligence brought him a MajorGold Medal for his painting Mohammed in a Desert. After graduation from theAcademy he voluntarily continued his education for another three years in IlyaRepin’s studio. In 1897, he left for Pariswhere he studied at Julian’s academy but soon after returned to St. Petersburg. At the exhibition of contemporary art in Paris he received the Major Silver Medal for his paintingCountry Quiet. His pictures were acquired by Neue Pinakothek in Munich (White Night in Petersburg)and Gallery of Contemporary Art in Venice(Twilight in Lazenki, 1903). In St. Petersburg,he started writing critical articles on contemporary art. However, in spite ofactive art life in Russia, he became a memberof a Polish artistic association Sztuka, and in 1903, he moved to Warsaw. He was the first director of the School of Fine Arts opened in 1904. During six years, he managed toorganize education along contemporary lines. Later he spent four yearstravelling in France, Germany,Sweden, Spain,Italy and the Canary Islands. During World War I he lived in St. Petersburg and Moscow, andorganized two large personal exhibitions there. In 1918 he returned to Warsaw, but two years later he went on another longjourney across the Balkans and Scandinavia. Hecreated the artists’ association Sursum Corda (1922). His curiosity towardsoccult sciences, influenced by the German philosopher Rudolf Steiner andRussian theologists, led to changes in the nature of his paintings. He movedfrom moody landscapes and portraits to fantastic and mystic pictures, which hepainted till the end of his life. Unfortunately, during the years of revolutionhis pictures from the Approaching Thunderstorm cycle (1907–1910) were lost inAlupka, Crimea. Those paintings predicted thefate of European nations, and later the author gave them the name of Foresightof Future Catastrophes. They demonstrated primeval views of the Earth with landflooded by the sea, disquieting sky, smokes from scorched ruins, damaged trees.The only things binding the sky and the earth together were the tragic crossesrising upwards. His contemporaries called him ‘artist-poet’. In the 1920s heexhibited a lot. Every two years his exhibitions took place in Warsaw, Poznan, and Lodz. A large exhibition dedicated to the 40thanniversary of his artistic activities was held in Lodz.He was almost forgotten for some time. There are not many of his works left.Most of them were lost during the Russian Revolution and the 1944 uprising in Warsaw. K. Stabrowski died and was buried in Warsaw.
He travelled to Palestine to collect materials for his diploma work.
He visited Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
1910-1914 he spent travelling in France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy and the Canary Islands.
He organized two large personal exhibitions in St. Petersburg during World War I
1920-1922 - journey across the Balkans and Scandinavia