| Artist | Jan Matejko |
|---|---|
| Year | 1862 |
| Type | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 120 cm × 88 cm (47 in × 35 in) |
| Location | Warsaw National Museum, Warsaw |
The Stańczyk is a painting by Jan Matejko finished in 1862. The full title of the painting is Stańczyk w czasie balu na dworze królowej Bony wobec straconego Smoleńska (Stańczyk during a ball at the court of queen Bona in the face of the loss of Smolensk). It is one of Matejko's most famous works and the one that rose him to fame.
Stańczyk was the court jester when Poland was at the height of its political, economic and cultural power during the renaissance, being ruled by king Sigismund I the Old. He is shown sitting alone in a dark room, while a ball is in full swing in the neighbouring hall, hosted by the royal family. On the table lies a letter with the year 1514 announcing that Poland has lost Smolensk (now in Russia), causing Stańczyk's sorrow and reflection on his fatherland's fate. The name of the painting erroneously suggests that Poland was at the time ruled by queen Bona, when in fact on July 30th, 1514, when Smolensk was lost to Russia, Poland was ruled by king Sigmund the Old and his first wife queen Barbara Zápolya.