Henryk Siemiradzki

Henryk Siemiradzki
Henryk Siemiradzki in later life
Born	Henryk Siemiradzki October 24, 1843 (1843-10-24) Belgorod, Kharkov Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	August 23, 1902(1902-08-23) (aged 58) Strzałków, Congress Poland
Nationality	Polish
Education	Imperial Academy of Arts
Known for	Painting
Notable work	Nero's Torches, curtain for the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków, curtain for the Lwów Theatre
Movement	Academism

Henryk Hektor Siemiradzki (24 October 1843 – 23 August 1902) was a Polish Rome-based painter, best remembered for his monumental Academic art. He was particularly known for his depictions of scenes from the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the New Testament, owned by national galleries of Poland, Ukraine and Russia.

Many of his paintings depict scenes from antiquity, often the sunlit pastoral scenes or compositions presenting the lives of early Christians. He also painted biblical and historical scenes, landscapes, and portraits. His best-known works include monumental curtains for the Lviv (Lwów) Theatre of Opera and for the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków.

Siemiradzki was born to a Polish noble family of an officer (since 1871 a General) of the Imperial Russian Army, Hipolit Siemiradzki, and Michalina (née Prószyńska) in Belgorod (now Pechenihy, Kharkiv oblast, Ukraine), near the city of Kharkiv, where his father's regiment was stationed. The family had origins in Radom land and derived its name from the village of Siemiradz. One of the branches settled in the late 17th century near Navahrudak (Nowogródek). Henryk's grandfather held the post of podkomorzy in Nowogródek powiat. His parents were close friends with Adam Mickiewicz's family. He studied at Kharkiv Gymnasium where he first learned painting under the local school teacher, D.I. Besperchy, former student of Karl Briullov. He entered the Physics-Mathematics School of Kharkiv University and studied natural sciences there with great interest, but also continued to paint.