To Whom It May Concern
Not so long ago, while visiting the museum, I paid attention to the paintings by Jan/Ivan Chrucki, the world-known artist born in Belarus. I was extremely disappointed that the museum shields attribute him as “the Polish artist” or “the Polish-Russian painter”. It is not true.
I am Belarusian and I know that the outstanding artist Jan Chrucki was born in the town of Ula, Vitsebsk Region (Belarus) in 1810. His father, Tamash Chrucki, was a Belarusian Greek Catholic priest in the village of Usaya. Therefore, the artist was Belarusian by origin and place of birth.
Jan Chrucki received his early education at home. Later on, he entered the Jesuit Academy in Polatsk (Belarus), where he received professional artistic training. Having a Belarusian art education, the young Chrucki came to St. Petersburg (Russia), where he began to study at the Academy of Arts in 1830.
In 1836, Chrucki was awarded the Major Silver Medal of the Imperial Academy of Arts for his still lifes. At that time, the artist painted many portraits, one of them — Old Woman Knitting a Sock — brought him the next award — the Minor Gold Medal of the Academy. In 1839, the artist received the title of academician. But a year later, after his father’s death, Chrucki left St. Petersburg forever and returned to Belarus and lived there until the end of his days.
In 1844, Chrucki bought the estate of Zakharnichy in the Polatsk district (Belarus), and most of his works were created there. Except for some periods from 1846 to 1854, when the artist often visited Vilnius and worked there, Chrucki lived in his Belarusian estate of Zakharnichy, until he died in 1885. The famous Saint Casimir by Jan Chrucki was painted there. Now, this piece of art is kept in the collection of M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Kaunas (Lithuania).
Jan Chrucki died on January 13, 1885. He was buried at the family cemetery in Zakharnichy. He was born and raised in Belarus, he began his artistic education in this country and lived almost all his life in his homeland. Jan Chrucki went down in history of Eastern European art as an outstanding master in the genres of still life, portrait, and architectural landscape. His work greatly influenced the artistic landscape of present-day Lithuania, Russia, and Poland, but he drew his inspiration from Belarus.
So I think it is fair to attribute Jan Chrucki as a Belarusian artist first of all. And I hope that his works in the museum and many other museums globally will be identified properly.
I will be glad to receive an answer to my proposal.
Sincerely yours,
імя, прозвішча