Iconographical and legal aspects of Jan Matejko’s Battle of Grunwald Cover Image

Ikonograficznoprawne aspekty Bitwy pod Grunwaldem Jana Matejki
Iconographical and legal aspects of Jan Matejko’s Battle of Grunwald

Author(s): Jolanta Gajewska
Subject(s): History, Visual Arts, History of Law, Middle Ages, 15th Century, History of Art
Published by: Oficyna Wydawnicza KA AFM
Keywords: the Battle of Grunwald;visualization of law;legal iconography;Jan Matejko’s paintings;use of legal symbols;insignia;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to present iconographical and legal aspects of Jan Matejko’s Battle of Grunwald. The painting comes from 1878 and presents one of the most important victory in Polish history. It belongs to Matejko’s paintings catalogue designed to picture glory of Poland. There were a lot of accusation regarding this painting (rules of perspective’s infringement, historical inaccuracy, excessive herding of figures), but it was caused by Matejko’s vision. The visualization of law in the Battle of Grunwald encompasses numerous issues, such as signalization of entitlements and functions, badges of dignity or authority, signs of jurisdiction, position in social structure (class). Notably Authoress elaborates attributes of knightly attire and attirement of the Teutonic Knights, insignia (e.g. the scepter of Jagiellonian University, the spear of St. Maurice), weapon (e.g. the executioner’s axe).

  • Issue Year: XXI/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 43-58
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Polish