Józef Kosinski

Józef Kosinski (ur. 1754 Cracow, zm. 01.04.1821 Warsaw).
We know very little about the artist's life. Initial studies, which he did with Bacciarelli, allegedly deepened in Italy. He was the court painter of Stanisław August (the first monthly salary of 10 ducats received in 1789). The king awarded him with the »Bene Merentibus« medal. Kosiński was primarily a miniaturist. He painted numerous portraits of the king, several times by Tadeusz Kościuszko, nadto ks. Joseph, Józef Grassi, Kazimierz Wojniakowski, Rozalia Małachowska – 1797, Izabela Czartoryska – 1800, Kacper and Kazimierz Potulicki – 1801, gen. Maurice Hauke – 1801. He ran a studio in Warsaw, in which he employed numerous students, among them Antoni Blank and Jozafat Łukaszewicz. The level of Kosiński's miniatures is very uneven. Apart from the excellent, there are some that are so weak, that only characteristically portrayed faces allow us to guess his brush. It seems correct to suppose, that the artist only sketched some portraits, leaving the finish to the students. Kosiński painted oil portraits less frequently, including. Tadeusz Kościuszko – 1790, Maria's wife, son of Jan and a self-portrait – ok. 1803 and watercolor (Kazimierz Brodziński, Karol Kurpiński). Few of his works have survived. The National Museum in Poznań keeps 15 artist's unfinished miniatures, interesting hand studies among them. The museums in Warsaw and Krakow have the largest collection of works.

Self portrait, ok. 1803
oil, canvas, oval, 66,5 x 53 cm;
National Museum in Warsaw;

Portrait of a young man, 1796
oil, Ivory, oval, 73 x 56 cm;
National Museum in Warsaw;