Yalta (Spring)

Jan Ciągliński prints bring light and colour from a lifetime of travel into your home: Crimean gardens, Jerusalem and Nazareth, Egyptian temples, Indian palaces, Spanish towns and the pale white nights of St Petersburg. Ciągliński was a Polish painter working in Russia whose quick, sunlit studies are considered the first examples of Russian Impressionism. Our collection of fine art prints gathers hundreds of his travel sketches and landscapes.

About Jan Ciągliński

Jan Ciągliński was born in Warsaw on 20 February 1858 into a noble family. He studied medicine and natural sciences at the University of Warsaw from 1876 to 1878, taking drawing lessons at the same time with Wojciech Gerson. From 1879 to 1885 he trained at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg, and after a well-paid commission brought him back to the city, he decided to stay. In 1894 he studied briefly in Paris.

He taught at the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, helped found the World of Art group, and from 1902 taught at the Imperial Academy, becoming an Academician in 1906 and a full professor in 1911. He also ran a private school; his students included Ivan Bilibin, Eugene Lanceray, Pavel Filonov and Yury Annenkov.

Known as "frenetic Jan" for his fast, passionate way of working, he travelled widely in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. A keen amateur pianist, he painted Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Anton Rubinstein. He died in St Petersburg on 6 January 1913 and left his works to Poland, where most arrived by 1922.

Style and Subjects

Ciągliński was a colourist above all, fascinated by light. His travel studies are small, quick oil sketches with bright, broken colour: white walls in hot sun, blue seas, green poplars and the warm stone of old cities.

His northern pictures are quieter, catching the cool, silvery light of St Petersburg's white nights. Alongside landscapes he painted portraits, decorative works and Orientalist scenes based on his travel sketches.

Famous Works

• Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, from the journey to Palestine (1901), National Museum in Warsaw. A street of old Jerusalem in strong sunlight.
• The Dead Sea, from the journey to Palestine (1901), National Museum in Warsaw. Still water and pale hills in the desert light.
• Mary's Well in Nazareth, from the journey to Palestine (1901), National Museum in Warsaw. A town scene from his Holy Land trip.
• Girl from Jerusalem, from the journey to Palestine (1901), National Museum in Warsaw. A portrait sketch from the same journey.
• The White Night – A River. The silvery light of a northern summer night.
• View from Bakhchisaray, from the journey to Crimea. The old Crimean town among hills.
• Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin. One of his many portraits of composers.

Decorating with Ciągliński Prints

Ciągliński's sunny travel sketches are ideal for a living room, kitchen or sunroom. Their small size and bright colour make them perfect for a gallery wall: mix Crimean gardens, Spanish towns and Palestine views in simple wood or white frames.

His white-night river scenes bring a calm, cool mood to a bedroom or bathroom, and his composer portraits suit a music room or study.

FAQ

Who was Jan Ciągliński?

Jan Ciągliński (1858–1913) was a Polish painter who worked in St Petersburg. His works are considered the first examples of Russian Impressionism.

Where did he travel?

He travelled through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, painting in Crimea, Palestine, Egypt, Turkestan, India, Italy and Spain.

Was he a teacher?

Yes. He taught at the Imperial Academy of Arts and ran his own school; his students included Ivan Bilibin, Eugene Lanceray and Pavel Filonov.

Where can I see his paintings?

He left his works to Poland, and many are in the National Museum in Warsaw; some are now in Ukraine.

Why did he paint composers?

He was a keen amateur pianist, and many of his portraits show musicians such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Anton Rubinstein and Josef Hofmann.

Related Artists

• Wojciech Gerson: his first drawing teacher in Warsaw
• Ivan Bilibin: his student in St Petersburg
• Leon Bakst: fellow member of the World of Art group