Bishop Lubrański establishes the Ecclesiastical Academy in Poznań, sketch 1886

Jan Matejko made this sketch, titled "Bishop Lubrański establishes the Ecclesiastical Academy in Poznań," with oil on canvas. Matejko lived during a time when Poland was partitioned, a period marked by a struggle for national identity. Here, we see the bishop, an imposing figure, central to the establishment of an academy, a beacon of Polish intellectual life. Note how Matejko uses color and light to emphasize the solemnity of the event. The somber tones speak to the weight of Polish history, with education acting as resistance. As Matejko once said, "Art should embrace its national roots." In his vision, the academy isn't just a school; it's an assertion of cultural pride, a space for fostering identity in the face of political erasure. The personal and the political intertwine. The bishop embodies both spiritual authority and national resilience. This sketch captures the intersection of faith, education, and national identity. It's a reminder of the emotional and intellectual power of art in times of oppression.