Jan Polack
Encyclopedia
Jan Polack Johannes Polack (Hanns Polagk, Polegk), (between 1435 and 1450 (possibly in Kraków
) – 1519 in Munich
) was a 15th-century painter
.
From his nickname it is assumed that he might have worked in Krakow. From the mid-1470s on, he lived and worked in Munich, having previously been in Franconia
. He may have taken part in the 1475 festival of the Landshut Wedding of Jadwiga Jagiellon and George of Bavaria
. In 1480 he opened his own shop in Munich.
Starting in 1482 he is listed on the tax records of Munich
, also as leader of the local painter guild. He visited with Michael Wohlgemuth and his art was influenced by him and by that of Veit Stoss
and Hans Pleydenwurff
as well as by collaboration with the woodcutter Erasmus Grasser
.
Documents mention many works of his which are now lost. His most important remaining work is the Weihenstephan
altarpiece (1483–1485), now at the Alte Pinakothek
in Munich.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
) – 1519 in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
) was a 15th-century painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
From his nickname it is assumed that he might have worked in Krakow. From the mid-1470s on, he lived and worked in Munich, having previously been in Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
. He may have taken part in the 1475 festival of the Landshut Wedding of Jadwiga Jagiellon and George of Bavaria
George of Bavaria
George of Bavaria referred to as the Rich , was the last Duke of Bavaria-Landshut...
. In 1480 he opened his own shop in Munich.
Starting in 1482 he is listed on the tax records of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, also as leader of the local painter guild. He visited with Michael Wohlgemuth and his art was influenced by him and by that of Veit Stoss
Veit Stoss
Veit Stoss was a leading Bavarian sculptor, mostly in wood, whose career covered the transition between the late Gothic and the Northern Renaissance. His style emphasized pathos and emotion, helped by his virtuoso carving of billowing drapery; it has been called "late Gothic Baroque"...
and Hans Pleydenwurff
Hans Pleydenwurff
Hans Pleydenwurff was a German painter.His father was probably Kunz Pleydenwurff, a well-respected painter and part-time mayor in Bamberg. Since 1457, Hans lived in Nuremberg where he established a new style of realism, influenced by Northern Renaissance painters...
as well as by collaboration with the woodcutter Erasmus Grasser
Erasmus Grasser
Erasmus Grasser was a leading sculptor in Munich in the early 16th century.He developed in an animated and realistic style, furthering on the works of Nikolaus Gerhaert...
.
Documents mention many works of his which are now lost. His most important remaining work is the Weihenstephan
Weihenstephan Abbey
Weihenstephan Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Weihenstephan, now part of Freising district, in Bavaria, Germany.-Monastery:...
altarpiece (1483–1485), now at the Alte Pinakothek
Alte Pinakothek
The Alte Pinakothek is an art museum situated in the Kunstareal in Munich, Germany. It is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses one of the most famous collections of Old Master paintings...
in Munich.
Literature
- Andrea Langer, „Jan Polack“ in „Neue Deutsche BiographieNeue Deutsche BiographieNeue Deutsche Biographie is a biographical reference work published in German by the Historical Committee at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities and printed by Duncker & Humblot in Berlin. It is the successor to the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie...
“, München 1999. - Hanna Bösl, „Jan Polack“, Freilassing 1988
- Christiane Kant, „Der Münchner Stadtmaler Jan Polack als Bildnismaler“, Berlin 1997
- Magdalena Elsholz / Gabriela-Irena Madry, Die polnische Braut - Spuren bayerisch-polnischer Geschichte, 2004, ISBN 3-929759-91-8