Background
He was descended from an old family of the Livonian nobility. In 1863, his father was exiled to Siberia for his participation in the January Uprising. His mother followed with the family, as far as she could, and he grew up in the Urals.
He was descended from an old family of the Livonian nobility. In 1863, his father was exiled to Siberia for his participation in the January Uprising. His mother followed with the family, as far as she could, and he grew up in the Urals.
His first lessons in art were given to him there by Lucjan Kraszewski (brother of the writer Józef Ignacy Kraszewski), who was also living in exile. In 1874, his father was pardoned, but they were not allowed to return to their old home, so they settled in Warsaw, where he studied painting with Wojciech Gerson. His work there attracted the attention of Henryk Siemiradzki who, in 1880, helped him gain admission to the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint St. Petersburg.
He graduated in 1885, earning a silver medal and the official title of "Artist" for his canvas "Transport of the Wounded".
In 1889, he spent some time in Munich, improving his skills with Alfred Kowalski. During the First World War, he was forced to return to Warsaw and remained there until his death.
An avid hunter, many of his landscapes included animal life.
