Sketches of the heads of witnesses to the death of St. Matthias to the painting ‘Martyrdom of St. Matthias’ 1866 - 1867

Józef Simmler made these sketches of heads in preparation for his painting, ‘The Martyrdom of St. Matthias’. Painted in Poland in the mid-19th century, Simmler’s sketches offer a glimpse into the artistic process and its connection to cultural and institutional norms. The artist’s academic training would have emphasized preparatory studies like these to explore composition, expressions and emotions. Here, Simmler captures the anguish of witnesses to a saint's martyrdom. Looking at sketches like this, historians consider how art academies shaped artistic production. They reflect the emphasis on historical and religious subjects favored by the art establishment. But we should also ask, did artists like Simmler challenge or reinforce the prevailing social structures of their time? To really understand the cultural significance of such works, we can turn to archival sources, artist's letters, and exhibition reviews to explore the complex interplay between artistic creation and its broader social and institutional contexts.