Henryk Hektor Siemiradzki (1843-1902) was Polish, but his family was prominent in Imperial Russia, his father being an army general. As this biography mentions, he first trained in physics and mathematics, but then went on to study art in St. Petersburg.

His best known works are very large, dealing in religious and classical subjects. His style was essentially academic, but usually with lively, not stilted, subjects.

Here are some examples of his work. Click to enlarge.

Gallery

[Image]Chopin at the Piano - c.1887
A non-classical subject, but important to Poles.

[Image]At the Spring

[Image]Roman Idyll (Before the Bath) - 1887
Two examples of smaller paintings.

[Image]Nero's Torches - 1877

[Image]Christ with Martha and Mary - 1886

[Image]Dance Amongst the Swords - 1881
Version in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

[Image]Judgement of Paris - 1892

[Image]Phryne at the Poseidonia in Eleusis - 1889