Czeslaw Viktorovich Znamierowski (23 May 1890 – 9 August 1977) was a renowned Soviet Lithuanian painter, a member of the Artists' Union of the USSR, known for his large artworks and love of nature. Znamierowski combined these two passions to create some of the most notable paintings in the Soviet Union, earning a prestigious title of "Honorable Artist of LSSR" in 1965. His works can be found in the Lithuanian Art Museum, Šiaulių „Aušros“ Museum, Warsaw National Gallery of Art, the Tretyakov Gallery as well as in known private collections and art funds.
Znamierowski was born in Zatišje, Ludza, in eastern Latvia, to a father who worked as a land-surveyor and a mother who was a music teacher. He attended the St. Petersburg Academy of Art twice between 1912 and 1917, and then attended Vilnius University from 1926 to 1929. He studied under Ferdynand Ruszczyc, Arkady Rylov, Isaac Levitan, and Nicholas Roerich. Znamierowski lived in Vilnius the remainder of his life, and often painted images of the cities landscapes. By 1965, he painted around 1,400 landscapes and made 800 sketches and over 3,000 artworks in his entire 50-year career as an artist.
Znamierowski's art was popular at home and abroad. He was one of the few artists in the Soviet Union, whose art was allowed to leave The Iron Curtain. His artworks were sold to museums, state institutions, galleries and private collection of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia (within the Soviet Bloc) as well as USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Spain, France (outside the Soviet Bloc). It is very likely that his art was sold to many other countries: "His [Czeslaw Znamierowski's] works have been acquired by Lithuanian and foreign museums."
History Znamierowski was born on May 23, 1890, in Latvia in a small village of Zatishye (Lithuanian: Zatišje // Polish: Zacisze). The village itself was part of the rural district of Pilden, Ludza region, which bordered Latvia and Belarus. He was born into a poor but very artistic working-class Polish family. His father was a land-surveyor, and his mother was music and singing teacher, who occasionally painted as well. His grandfather, on the mother's side, was a sculptor, and his aunt (A. Bobrowicz) was a painter. As a child, growing up in rural Latvia, Czeslaw was surrounded by nature. The farmhouse where he lived was always abundant in flowers. His mother adored art and it was under her influence that Czeslaw first discovered painting. From that point on he never stopped. When he entered high school, in Daugavpils (Polish: Dzwinsk), his aunt was guiding him further in his art education. Being in high school, he met a student (A. Pliszko) from St. Petersburg Arts Academy. Pliszko perceived a talent in Czeslaw's artworks and invited him to St. Petersburg. After finishing high school Czeslaw collected all the money he could from selling his belongings and savings from various jobs to move to St. Petersburg. In 1911 Znamierowski arrived in St. Petersburg to continue his art education. In Znamierowski's words: "I did not hesitate much, I sold my bicycle, with the cash collected I bought a railway ticket and in 1911 I found myself in a building at Moika".
He was admitted into the "Society for the Encouragement of the Arts" located on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, not far from the Moika river. The society was headed by Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947), who guided Znamierowski in his art education in St. Petersburg. Shortly after Czeslaw began his studies, he had to withdraw himself from school, and go back home because of a difficult family situation. After over a year of the interruption Czeslaw came back to continue his studies. In 1915 Znamierowski was accepted into St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, where teachings of Arkady Rylov (1870–1939) and works of Isaac Levitan (1860–1900) had a strong impact on the young artist. However, his studies were cut short, this time by the 1917 Great October Revolution. In Znamierowski's words: "I could not be indifferent to what was happening. In Zatishye, I propagated among the peasants and was appointed as the secretary of the Public Committee of Peasants. In January 1918 the white guardsmen arrested me, I was in danger of being executed, I barely saved my life. I faced possible imprisonment, however, this couldn't hold me from continuing to take action."
After the October Revolution Znamierowski came back to Latvia. There he took an active part in establishing of the Soviet government, and for some time had worked as a chairman of Proletariat Culture of Liucen region. He also returned to the life of art, displaying his landscapes in Riga Art Gallery. In 1920 he started participating in more exhibitions and became a member of the Latvian Independent Artists Society as well as the Latvian Artists Union.
Znamierowski left Latvia in 1926, moving to the neighboring Poland, so he could again resume his art education. This time he applied and was admitted to the Vilnius University Faculty of Art, which at the time was under the management of a well-known artist, Ferdynand Ruszczyc (1870–1936). In order to relocate to Vilnius he had to sell everything he had including his family house in Latvia. The reason why Znamierowski entered Vilnius University was not because he lacked knowledge or skills, but because he specifically wanted to study with Prof. Ferdynand Ruszczyc and Prof. Aleksander Szturman. He finished his studies in 1929, however the move to Poland turned out to be a permanent one. He fell in love with the country, and although traveling extensively throughout his life, Vilnius was where he lived until his final days.
After finishing his studies and becoming an accomplished full-time artist, Znamierowski gained substantial popularity in Poland. Many of his paintings were acquired by Zacheta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw. In 1931 Czeslaw got an honor prize for his art, and in 1932, in Kraków he obtained an Honorary Diploma for his landscape painting "Before Rain". In 1933, again, his painting "Before Rain" won him a bronze medal in Zacheta National Gallery of Art exhibition called "Incentive". Znamierowski often took part in organizational and social activity. In 1933 he organized the first Vilnius Independent Artists Society, which played an important role in Lithuanian art history.
He continued to participate in exhibitions, social events and activities up until 1941 when the war broke out between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. His last exhibition before the war was in 1939 in Warsaw, just before it was invaded by the German forces. Znamierowski survived World War II, and even continued to paint during those difficult years, while helping with the war efforts. Here is what Znamierowski said to a reporter in a 1970 interview about that time period: "C.Z.: During the war I was still painting. When the bombarding of the town began, we were laying just here, in this room, one on top of the other on the floor. Reporter: Did you not hide the paintings? C.Z.: No. Reporter: And after the war? C.Z.: I painted, I painted, I painted."
In 1947 Znamierowski became a member of the LSSR Artists Union, and in 1965 he was awarded with a prestigious title of Honorable Artist of LSSR. Being an active supporter of Socialism, during an interview in 1970, here's what he said about the ideology and how it relates to his art: "My motto has always been the Lenin's principle, that art is for the people and must be widely comprehensible by all".
Throughout his life he traveled a lot, especially in the Caucasus, Crimea and Zakarpattia regions. From each trip he would bring between 20 and 25 canvasses.
On August 9, 1977, at the age of 87 the painter Znamierowski died. He was a professional artist for his entire life. Czeslaw was laid to rest at the St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church graveyard in Vilnius city.
Znamierowski's House "This house—is a piece of art. That is why it resisted trends and reconstructions, and it was left to enjoy the eyes all walking and driving by. We have to mention though that besides art Czeslaw Znamierowski is engaged in floriculture and receives a yearly distinction from the Town Council."
In Vilnius, Czeslaw lived and worked his entire life in the same house located on 15 Antakalnis street. That house was a representation of the artist and brought him certain fame in the city. As a painter and a lover of flowers, Znamierowski redecorated the front yard into one of the most beautiful gardens in the city, attracting a lot of attention in the summer months. His garden contained different variety of roses, gerberas, dahlias and many other flowers.
Although the house does not exist anymore, during Czeslaw's life, due to his gardening efforts the house was considered a piece of art, and one of the city's unofficial touring sights. Some local residents and tourists took a trolley or a bus to see the charming garden on the hill with a lively old man bustling in between the flowers. Because of this, the house resisted all reconstruction trends, which were popular in the Soviet Union, especially after World War II. Znamierowski's engagement in floriculture got him a yearly distinction from the town council. He continued maintaining his garden until he died.
Accomplishments In 1930 Znamierowski established the first Independent Artists Society in Vilnius, which was an important event in Lithuanian art history. Znamierowski was one of the first artists who started painting monumental panoramic landscapes of the Soviet Lithuania, many of which decorated interiors of state buildings not only in Soviet Lithuania but USSR at large. Znamierowski created over 3000 artworks in his 50-year career as an artist. Znamierowski's biggest canvas was called "Panorama of Vilnius City". It was 8 meters wide by 2.5 meters tall, and was exhibited in Moscow in the pavilion of the Lithuanian SSR at the Exhibition of National Economic Achievements. For his artistic accomplishments Znamierowski received two honorary diplomas from the Supreme Presidium Committee of Lithuanian SSR. In 1965 Znamierowski became an Honorable Artist of LSSR. From 1970 to 1977 Znamierowski was the eldest living artist of Vilnius city.
Exhibitions "Znamierowski obtained diplomas and medals many times. He had exhibitions in Warsaw, Moscow, London and also beyond, in Europe and America. His paintings were bought with willingness."
Exhibitions were very personal to Znamierowski. He felt that an exhibition of his art is a "confession" of his entire life. After nearly 50 years of being a professional artist, Znamierowski had a substantial amount of small and large exhibitions in some of the most prominent national museums and galleries of the Soviet Union. He had seven major solo exhibitions in Vilnius and Warsaw. Znamierowski's artworks were exhibited in Riga, Ludza, Vilnius, Kraków, Warsaw, Moscow, St. Petersburg and many other cities in USSR.
A large painting of Vilnius City created by Znamierowski took the center stage in the LSSR pavilion during the Exhibition of National Economic Achievements in Moscow. Other prominent locations where Znamierowski's paintings were exhibited include: The National Museum of Riga, Vilnius University, National Art Museum of Lithuania, National Art Gallery of Lithuania, Vilnius Exhibition Place, State Gallery of Kraków, Warsaw Art Gallery, Zacheta National Gallery of Art and others.
List of Znamierowski's exhibitions that were confirmed through public records: 1920 – Riga National Museum, Latvia "In 1920 I took part for the first time in an exhibition in Riga. I remember, the Swedish Association of the Independent Artists bought two paintings." – C. Znamierowski 1929 – Vilnius University, Lithuania In 1929, upon graduation from Vilnius University, Znamierowski arranged an exhibition of his artworks.