Stańczyk The Court Jester
Stańczyk is the most famous court jester in Polish history and was considered to be much more than a mere entertainer. He knew Poland’s political situation and is remembered as a man of great intelligence. Stańczyk used satire in a philosophical way, often criticizing or warning his contemporaries with jokes. He is well known for the saying “it is a greater folly to let out a bear that was already in a cage”. #art #history
Jan Matejko The Painter
Jan Matejko (1838-1893) is considered one of the greatest Polish artists and is known for his large, historically themed paintings. Some of his most famous works include Battle of Grunwald and Copernicus. Stańczyk was one of Jan Matejko’s favorite historical figures and appears in a number of his paintings. By giving the jester his own facial features, Matejko created the popular image of Stańczyk that is familiar to most modern Poles. #funfact