Classical Paintings by Polish Artist Józef Simmler

Józef Simmler (March 14, 1823, in Warsaw – March 1, 1868, in Warsaw) was a Polish painter known for his classical style and his Polish subjects. Simmler was born in Warsaw, he came from a wealthy German family, which gave him the funds to pursue his artistry in Dresden, Munich, and Paris. The “Death of Barbara Radziwillowna” ("Śmierć Barbary Radziwiłłówny"), is his most famous painting, which was originally featured in the Society for the Promotion of the Fine Arts in Warsaw and now hangs in the National Museum in Warsaw. Józef Simmler’s major contribution to Polish art is the humaneness that his paintings evoked. He was a specially gifted portraitist. Using styles of costume paintings prevalent in France, he produced works that allowed the public a view of the past. His paintings, however, were more than just reproductions of history. The masterful works also gave a deep sense of compassion, dread, and tenderness.