Jerzy Rupniewski

Jerzy Mieczysław Rupniewski (21 September 1888 – 10 June 1950) was a Polish painter and graphic artist.

Biography Early life and youth Jerzy was the son of Władysław Rupniewski and Maria née Janke.

He studied at the vocational institution of The Trade School of the Merchants' Assembly of the City of Warsaw , located in Prosta street (now inexistent). He started to paint at the age of 15, but his father pushed him to study in the commercial domain. Hence, young Rupniewski moved to Lausanne, Switzerland to study at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales . He graduated from the establishment in 1908. At the end of the year 1913, he returned to Warsaw.

His first exhibition occurred in 1914 at the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in Warsaw where he displayed pencil drawings as well as oil and watercolor paintings. In 1917, he organized his first solo exhibition.

Activity in Bydgoszcz

In early 1920, he transferred to Zalesie, a small village located north of Bydgoszcz and began to participate in the cultural life of Bydgoszcz.

When a Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts was established in Bydgoszcz in August 1921, Rupniewski became a member of the board.

In November 1925, the Rupniewski family settled permanently in Bydgoszcz: first at 15 Krakowska Street until 1929, then on Konarskiego Street and eventually from 1934 at 151 Nakielska Street.

In Bydgoszcz, he painted views of the town, especially the so-called Bydgoszcz Venice , an architectural ensemble of houses in downtown built over one of the rivulets. He depicted this area many times with various details. Furthermore, he depicted as well local fishermen, workers, craftsmen and salesmen. He was a member of the Julian Fałat Artists' Brotherhood in Toruń. From November 1929 to 1931, Jerzy was the vice-president and then president of the Pomeranian Artists' Association.

Rupniewski traveled extensively in search of new themes, visiting: for the opening of one of his exhibition in 1935 proved the popularity that the painter's art enjoyed in the city.

The same year In 1935, Rupniewski undertook the design of rooms in the Municipal Library in Bydgoszcz, intended to store the Bernardine book collection. The artist designed the interiors together with Wiktor Zabielski, the city architect. He independently created the wall painting, which consisted of portraits of monks and stylized inscriptions commemorating the donors of the books. For this work, the city of Bydgoszcz donated the artist a studio in the building of the Municipal Library.

Second World War and following years After the outbreak of the war in 1939, Rupniewski and his wife left to Lviv where he continued painting for a living and then to Janowice near Sandomierz. His deteriorating health and paralysis resulted in six months of treatment in a Warsaw hospital.

He and his wife escaped deportation, staying in Pruszków, Jędrzejów and Zakopane.

Selective list of creations Based on the set of preserved works and those mentioned in sources (exhibitions lists), it is assessed that Jerzy Rupniewski realized over 400 paintings. where he presented eight paintings, probably created during his studies in Paris. November 1937 - Lviv Society of Friends of Fine Arts. 1938 - exhibition of watercolors at the Palace of Fine Arts in Kraków, with – among others – Franciszek Jaźwiecki, Ludwik Misky and . 1938 - Trade Union of Polish Visual Artists in Lviv. June 1939 - Travelling Exhibition of Fine Arts in Bydgoszcz, with Marian Turwid, Piotr Triebler, Aleksander Jędrzejewski, Jerzy Faczyński. 1947 - Rupniewski's last solo exhibition, associated with the 35th anniversary of his artistic work, displayed 78 paintings.

For each exhibition, Rupniewski used to bring between 12 and 30 works.

Personal life From 1920, Rupniewski married Janina née Grabowska. The couple had a daughter and 3 sons. Although he never realized a self-portrait, he made portraits of his family members (Prządka, Portret matki and Portret syna - ).

They lost their youngest son during the Warsaw Uprising.

Rewards and recognition Rupniewski received awards at the Zachęta Salons in Warsaw: Bronze Medal (1930) and the Silver Medal (1936, 1937).

In 1981, a street in the district of Fordon was named after him.