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Jan Wielki


Jan Wielki (date of birth unknown, date of death: 1497) – a painter from Lesser Poland creating in the second half of the 15th century. Together with the Master of Poliptyk Dominikański (The Dominican Polyptych) and Nicolaus Haberschrack, he is one of the major representatives of the Gothic Panel painting in Lesser Poland in the second half of the 15th century.

Life and Artistic Legacy
The sources concerning the life of the artist are very scarce. It is known, however, that in 1466 in Cracow, the artist, being vouched for by Jan from Leśna and the goldmith, Marcinek, adopted the city rights. His nickname, "Wielki" (the Great), appears in the record of the guild's members penned in 1495. Futhermore, the name of another famous Polish artist, Wit Stwosz, also appears in the above-mentioned record. Except for Wit Stwosz and Nicolaus Haberschrack, Jan Wielki was in contact with the contemporary artists from Cracow, as well as Lesser Poland, among whom were such personages as, Stanisław Stary and Marcin Czarny. The latter was the executor of Jan Wielki's last will.

On the basis of the analysis concerning the works ascribed to Jan Wielki, it has been stated that the artist's activity commenced in 70s. of the 15th century. His major employers were the clergymen from parish and collegiate churches, as well as from monasteries. It is conceivable that the artist also worked at the court of the then monarch, Casimir IV the Jagiellonian. The scope of Jan Wielki's artistic activity, and the atelier run under his aegis, apart from Cracow, encompasses a considerable part of Lesser Poland, as well as Łęczyca County ( the Warta, The Royal Town of Łęczyca). The works of such Netherlands painters as, Dirk Bouts and Rogier van der Weyden, the German graphic art by Israhel von Meckenem, some of the works of Wit Stwosz, as well as the influences from Silesia and the Upper Hungary (Koszyce) are recognized as the major source of the artist's source of inspiration and style.

Selected List of Works

 * Poliptyk Olkuski ([[Poliptych from Olkusz]]) – the painter's chef d'oeuvre, the polyptych, painted for the Kolegiata Św. Andrzeja (St. Andrew's Collegiate Church) in Olkusz, was in the process of creation until 1485. The painting consists of the hull with the figure of the Madonna holding the infant Jesus, as well as two pairs of wings painted on both sides. The work was created in co-operation with Stanisław Stary.
 * Koronacja Marii (The Coronation of Mary) – the paiting that appeared in the church in Krosno after 1473.
 * Tryptyk ze św. Mikołajem (Triptych of St. Nicolas) – a retable in the parish church in Więcławice from 1477.
 * Zwiastowanie (The Annunciation) – the painting from the parish church in Cięcinie which, at present, remains in the collection of the National Museum in Cracow.
 * Wniebowzięcie Marii (The Assumption) – the paiting in the Observants' church in Warta. At present, it constitutes a part of the altar in Bazylika katedralna Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny ( The Assumption Basilica) in Włocławek (this work of art was previously attributed to Franciszek from Sieradz, the Observant painter).
 * Chrystus umęczony z Marią ( Tortured Christ with Virgin Mary)– the painting created between 1490 and 1495, placed in the parish church in Kurozwęki.