Tadeusz Pruszkowski
{{Short description|Polish painter (1888–1942)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Tadeusz Pruszkowski
| image = File:Прушковский, Тадеуш.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Tadeusz Pruszkowski
| caption = Tadeusz Pruszkowski (1930s)
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 15 April 1888
| birth_place = Borucice, Russian Empire (now, Poland)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1942|6|30|1888|4|15|df=yes}}
| death_place = Warsaw, Poland
| nationality =
| spouse =
| children =
| field = Painting
| training =
| movement =
| website =
}}
Tadeusz Pruszkowski (15 April 1888 – 30 June 1942) was a Polish painter and art teacher, known primarily for his portraits.
Biography
He began his artistic studies in 1904 at the {{ill|School of Fine Arts in Warsaw|pl|Szkoła Sztuk Pięknych w Warszawie}}, under Konrad Krzyżanowski.[http://culture.pl/pl/tworca/tadeusz-pruszkowski Brief biography] @ Culture.pl In 1908, he continued his studies in Paris, where he associated with Polish writers and artists belonging to the Royalist Club, a monarchist organization. He also met his future wife there. After graduating, he travelled to Switzerland and Algeria, returning to Poland in 1911 and helping to create an artists' society known as "Young Art" (Młoda Sztuka). In 1914, he held his first solo exhibition at the "{{ill|Society for the Appreciation of Fine Arts|pl|Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych}}".
File:Pruszkowski Self-portrait with a pipe.jpg
In 1915, all the members of Young Art joined the Polish Legion and the organization's funds were used to provide them with equipment. Pruszkowski adopted the name "Rdza" (rust), was assigned to a unit led by Captain Władysław Belina-Prażmowski and served with a Regiment of Uhlans.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} During a stay in Volhynia he created numerous portraits of the officers and soldiers which were shown at an exhibition in the Zachęta. In 1917, he became a member of the Reserves and later earned a pilot's license; becoming a lifelong enthusiast for air racing.
In 1922, following the death of Krzyżanowski, he was named a Professor at the School of Fine Arts. He took his students to paint en plein aire in Kazimierz Dolny, where he later built a villa, and his classes were very popular. One of his students was Caziel. He continued to participate in numerous exhibitions, both as exhibitor and organizer. In 1926 he directed a short comedy written by Feliks Topolski called Szczęśliwy wisielec, czyli Kalifornia w Polsce (The Happy Hangman, or California in Poland). One of the "stars" was the painter Janina Konarska.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111951/ Listing] @ IMDb.
In 1930, he became Rector at the School of Fine Arts; participating in the process that resulted in school being promoted to the Academy of Fine Arts in 1932. During the following years, he was involved in creating several organizations for the promotion of Polish art and wrote essays for various publications. In 1935, he was awarded the "Golden Laurel" of the Polish Academy of Literature. His awards included the Cross of Independence, the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Cross of Merit.
At the outbreak of World War II, he and his wife moved from Kazimierz Dolny to a small apartment in Warsaw and rarely ventured outside. He was arrested in June 1942, for aiding Jews and taken to Gestapo headquarters (now the Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom). After an interrogation, he was in the process of being transferred to Pawiak Prison, when he and another prisoner attempted to escape and were shot. They were buried by people from the nearby Warsaw Ghetto. After the war, his remains were recovered and interred in Powązki Cemetery.
Selected paintings
File:Tadeusz Pruszkowski PORTRET DZIEWCZYNY.jpg|Portrait of a
Young Woman
File:Tadeusz Pruszkowski Wit Stwosz 1920.jpg|Wit Stwosz
File:Tadeusz Pruszkowski Portret młodej malarki II.jpg|Portrait of a
Young Painter
Pruszkowski Melancholia.jpg|Melancholia
Pruszkowski-Piłsudski.jpg|Józef Piłsudski
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Tadeusz Pruszkowski}}
- [http://www.wkazimierzudolnym.pl/tadeusz-pruszkowski-i-jego-zwiazki-z-kazimierzem.html "Tadeusz Pruszkowski i jego związki z Kazimierzemadeusz Pruszkowski"] @ the Kazimierz Dolnym website
- [http://wkazimierzudolnym.pl/tadeusz-pruszkowski.html "Prusz portrecista"] @ the Kazimierz Dolnym website.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pruszkowski, Tadeusz}}
Category:People from Łęczyca County
Category:People from Kalisz Governorate
Category:19th-century Polish painters
Category:19th-century Polish male artists
Category:20th-century Polish painters
Category:20th-century Polish male artists
Category:Polish portrait painters
Category:Academic staff of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
Category:Polish Legions in World War I
Category:Recipients of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Category:Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature
Category:Polish people executed by Nazi Germany
Category:Executed people from Łódź Voivodeship