Jan Henryk de Rosen | |
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Born |
Warsaw, Russian Empire |
February 25, 1891
Died | August 22, 1982 Arlington, Virginia, United States |
(aged 91)
Nationality | Polish |
Jan Henryk de Rosen (February 25, 1891 – August 22, 1982) was a Polish painter and patriot, who became well known for his mural and mosaic works, in exile and active in the United States after 1939.
Jan Henryk de Rosen was born in the Russian occupied (Partitions of Poland) Warsaw, Poland to the painter Jan Rosen and Wanda née Hantke, both scions of Polish esteemed Jewish families that had converted to Calvinism in the 19th century, however Jan Henryk converted to Catholicism later on in life. His father was a very active Polish historical and genre painter, who amongst other activities worked as painter at the court of the last Czars of Russia, Alexander III and Nicholas II, but his work was mostly dedicated to the Polish historical military history (like other Polish painters Józef Brandt, Juliusz Kossak, Wojciech Kossak, Zygmunt Rozwadowski etc.) and is often used in history textbooks today. Early in his childhood Jan Henryk went to live with his two sisters, Maria and Zofia (she became a noted sculptor), in Paris, France, and it is said that he initially wrote poetry before deciding to devote himself to painting. During the First World War he first joined the French Army, 11th regiment of cuirassiers, fighting at the battles of Ypres and Somme, then he actively promoted the Polish forces in France known as the Blue Army and joined Polish Army. For his military services he was awarded Polish Virtuti Militari cross and Cross of Valour, French Legion of Honour and Croix de guerre.