Tadeusz Zukotynski
Encyclopedia
Polish count, professor, and painter Tadeusz Żukotyński (1855–1912) was born in what is today the region of Podolia
in Ukraine
. One of Europe's foremost painters in religious subjects. A pupil of Pilatti and a student of Jan Matejko
, Żukotyński studied at the Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany, where he was recognized with the highest prize awarded by the academy, a silver medal, as well as two bronze medals.
At the urging of his mother, he donated his first work, a small picture of the Blessed Virgin, to a poor church in Milwaukee. Shortly after he arrived in America, Żukotyński entered a church in Milwaukee and found his own Madonna in a place of honor. He opened a studio in Milwaukee at once, and went on to create more than 100 paintings and murals for churches around the United States
, five of which hang above the altars in Mary of the Angels Chapel, with an additional three paintings in the Adoration Chapel.
His works can be found in other areas of Wisconsin
, where Żukotyński painted the St. Francis of Assisi altar in the Maria Angelorum Chapel of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at St. Rose of Viterbo Convent
in La Crosse, Wisconsin
. An oil-on-canvas painting located immediately above the altar in Mary of the Angels Chapel, it depicts St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, showing Francis at prayer in the Little Chapel of Portiuncula, surrounded by visions of Jesus, Mary and angelic hosts.
Żukotyński was said to walk out into the country to study scenery so his paintings would be in harmony with local nature. He also apparently relied heavily on prayer, and always had a light burning in front of a statue of the Blessed Virgin, to whom he attributed his success.
His beautiful murals and pictures adorn many Polish churches in Chicago and its vicinity. He came to Chicago in 1888 and settled there. Żukotyński's frescoes can be found in many of the ornate churches here built in the so-called Polish Cathedral style
. Perhaps most well known is his large painting in the Sanctuary dome of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church which depicts the resurrected Christ accompanied by the saints in Heaven with a Latin inscription that reads: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Alleluia. And on the third day He arose as He said. Alleluia." He also painted the altar pieces in St. John Cantius
and at the Basilica of St. Hyacinth
, the lunettes in St. Hedwig's
, as well as the stations in Holy Cross
church. The Polish Museum of America in Chicago also possesses a collection of his original drawings donated by Dr. Charles H. Wachtl
Żukotyński's work can also be found in the state of Indiana where his stations of the cross can be seen at St. Hedwig's in South Bend, Indiana
, as well as his frescoes in the Church of the Immaculate Conception
at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
In 1901, Zukotynski painted 14 oil paintings in St. Mary's Church in St. Benedict, Kansas. In the nave are six oil paintings on canvas six by nine feet depicting scenes in the life of Mary, patroness of the church. In the transept are four round oil paintings on canvas six feet in diameter of the four major prophets. In the apse above the high altar are three oil paintings directly on the plaster wall depicting faith, hope, and love. Surmounting the high altar is an oil painting on canvas six by nine feet of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. The artist's signature is on the painting to the left of the main altar. St. Mary's was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Tadeusz Żukotyński died in 1912.
Żukotyński schooled the artist Sister Mary Stanisia, training her in such fields of art as religious and landscape painting, and sculpture, who later continued her studies at the Chicago Art Institute after his death. In 1920 Sister Stanisia, a teacher at the Academy of Our Lady, was commissioned to restore some of the precious frescoes of Zukotynski at St. Stanislaus Kostka
, St. Hyacinth Basilica and Holy Cross
churches in Chicago.
Podolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. One of Europe's foremost painters in religious subjects. A pupil of Pilatti and a student of Jan Matejko
Jan Matejko
Jan Matejko was a Polish painter known for paintings of notable historical Polish political and military events. His most famous works include oil on canvas paintings like Battle of Grunwald, paintings of numerous other battles and court scenes, and a gallery of Polish kings...
, Żukotyński studied at the Academy of Arts in Munich, Germany, where he was recognized with the highest prize awarded by the academy, a silver medal, as well as two bronze medals.
At the urging of his mother, he donated his first work, a small picture of the Blessed Virgin, to a poor church in Milwaukee. Shortly after he arrived in America, Żukotyński entered a church in Milwaukee and found his own Madonna in a place of honor. He opened a studio in Milwaukee at once, and went on to create more than 100 paintings and murals for churches around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, five of which hang above the altars in Mary of the Angels Chapel, with an additional three paintings in the Adoration Chapel.
His works can be found in other areas of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where Żukotyński painted the St. Francis of Assisi altar in the Maria Angelorum Chapel of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at St. Rose of Viterbo Convent
St. Rose of Viterbo Convent
St. Rose of Viterbo Convent is the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. The convent was dedicated to Rose of Viterbo. The Franciscan Sisters moved into the convent in 1871....
in La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
. An oil-on-canvas painting located immediately above the altar in Mary of the Angels Chapel, it depicts St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, showing Francis at prayer in the Little Chapel of Portiuncula, surrounded by visions of Jesus, Mary and angelic hosts.
Żukotyński was said to walk out into the country to study scenery so his paintings would be in harmony with local nature. He also apparently relied heavily on prayer, and always had a light burning in front of a statue of the Blessed Virgin, to whom he attributed his success.
His beautiful murals and pictures adorn many Polish churches in Chicago and its vicinity. He came to Chicago in 1888 and settled there. Żukotyński's frescoes can be found in many of the ornate churches here built in the so-called Polish Cathedral style
Polish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
. Perhaps most well known is his large painting in the Sanctuary dome of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church which depicts the resurrected Christ accompanied by the saints in Heaven with a Latin inscription that reads: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Alleluia. And on the third day He arose as He said. Alleluia." He also painted the altar pieces in St. John Cantius
St. John Cantius in Chicago
St. John Cantius Church is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois.It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of churches in both its opulence and grand scale. Along with such monumental religious edifices as St. Mary of the...
and at the Basilica of St. Hyacinth
Basilica of St. Hyacinth
St. Hyacinth Basilica, formally the Basilica of St. Hyacinth, - historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois....
, the lunettes in St. Hedwig's
St. Hedwig's in Chicago
St. Hedwig's Church is an historic parish church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois. Constructed in traditional grand Polish architecture and design, it is one of the many monumental Polish churches visible from the Kennedy Expressway...
, as well as the stations in Holy Cross
Holy Cross in Chicago
Holy Cross in Chicago, referred to in Lithuanian as Šv. Kryžiaus bažnyčia, is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois...
church. The Polish Museum of America in Chicago also possesses a collection of his original drawings donated by Dr. Charles H. Wachtl
Żukotyński's work can also be found in the state of Indiana where his stations of the cross can be seen at St. Hedwig's in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, as well as his frescoes in the Church of the Immaculate Conception
Church of the Immaculate Conception (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana)
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, is on the motherhouse grounds of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods...
at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
In 1901, Zukotynski painted 14 oil paintings in St. Mary's Church in St. Benedict, Kansas. In the nave are six oil paintings on canvas six by nine feet depicting scenes in the life of Mary, patroness of the church. In the transept are four round oil paintings on canvas six feet in diameter of the four major prophets. In the apse above the high altar are three oil paintings directly on the plaster wall depicting faith, hope, and love. Surmounting the high altar is an oil painting on canvas six by nine feet of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. The artist's signature is on the painting to the left of the main altar. St. Mary's was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Tadeusz Żukotyński died in 1912.
Żukotyński schooled the artist Sister Mary Stanisia, training her in such fields of art as religious and landscape painting, and sculpture, who later continued her studies at the Chicago Art Institute after his death. In 1920 Sister Stanisia, a teacher at the Academy of Our Lady, was commissioned to restore some of the precious frescoes of Zukotynski at St. Stanislaus Kostka
St. Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago
The St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in the Pulaski Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.St...
, St. Hyacinth Basilica and Holy Cross
Holy Cross in Chicago
Holy Cross in Chicago, referred to in Lithuanian as Šv. Kryžiaus bažnyčia, is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located in Chicago, Illinois...
churches in Chicago.