Stanisław Samostrzelnik

Stanisław Samostrzelnik (Stanisław z Krakowa, Stanisław z Mogiły, c. 1490–1541) was a Polish Renaissance painter, miniaturist, decorator and Cistercian monk from Kraków, Poland. He was the first Polish painter known by name who painted in the Renaissance style. There are many frescos by him in the churches of southern Poland. The most distinguished can be seen in the Cistercian monastery in Mogiła. He is also recognized for his portrait of Bishop Piotr Tomicki in the portrait gallery of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Kraków.

Life

Stanisław Samostrzelnik was a son of Piotr and Anna Samostrzelnik, who lived in the Kraków mansion of Cistercian Abbot of Koprzywnica. His father was probably a manufacturer of crossbows and bows, hence the name in old Polish (samostrzelnik from Latin sagittator, a crossbow maker). Samostrzelnik, after passing the necessary examinations, entered the Cistercian Abbey in Mogiła near Kraków, which at that time was a separate town, and today is in the urban area of Kraków, Nowa Huta. Thanks to the Abbot's protection, he quickly advanced to exposed monastic position of illuminator. From that time he used the new name Stanislaus Claratumbensis (Stanisław of Mogiła) derived from the Latin name of Mogiła Abbey, Clara Tumba (Holy Tomb). In 1511 he was awarded the right to live outside the monastery and moved to Szydłowiec to work for the town's owner, Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, castellan of Sandomierz, are visible in his work.