Michal Plonski, FEMALE FEMALE, FEMALE FEMALE, 1802

29.0 x 42.0 cm - etching, paper Beggar: 10.6 x 7.5 cm; signed on panel: MPf

Dutch peasant: 10.6 x 5.6 cm; signed on the plate: mPlonski f

Beggar woman: 10.6 x 7.5 cm; signed on the plate: MPf.



Three etchings from Recueil de 19 planches études des figures dessinées d'après nature à Amsterdam en 1802, et gravées spirituellement à l'eau forte par M. Plonski à Paris.

Michal Plonski - draughtsman, graphic artist and painter of miniatures; the most outstanding - next to A. Orłowski - a pupil of Jan Piotr Norblin in Warsaw, took over from his teacher the method of direct observation of nature and interest in genre subjects, often humorous.

In 1795-1799, accompanying the master, he traveled with other students to Nieborow. In 1796/1797 he stayed in Italy, and upon his return continued to maintain contact with Norblin. In 1800 he went abroad - first to Denmark, then to Holland. For several years he lived in Amsterdam, where he perfected his etching technique and conducted studies of Rembrandt's printmaking. There he also developed and - in 1802 - published his main graphic work - the portfolio Recueil de 19 planches etudes des figures dessinees d'apres nature a Amsterdam en 1802 et gravees spirituellement a l'eau forte par M. Plonski a Paris (later three more enriched Paris editions).

After a few years, the artist moved to Paris, where he worked in the Drawing Cabinet and made many etchings, which were copies of paintings by Rembrandt and other masters of old painting. He also painted miniature portraits. In 1810 he returned to Warsaw, taught drawing in Nieborów for a while and painted miniatures.
His further work was prevented by mental illness; the artist died in the Warsaw Hospital of the Fathers of St. Bonifratres. Of his works, he is known primarily for his drawings and engravings; the largest collection of them, acquired from Nieborów, is in the National Museum in Warsaw, while a number of works are also in the collections of the Cabinet of Engravings of the Warsaw University Library, the National Museum in Cracow, the Ossoliński Library and the collections of other museums or libraries.