The Death of Ellenai

The painting makes reference to Chapter XIII of the epic poem “Anhelli”, written in 1837 by Juliusz Słowacki. It describes the tragic fate of the Polish nation and the nightmare of Siberian exile. The title refers to the figure of Ellenai – a repenting criminal – who died in exile in Siberia. In this poetic and patriotic scene, the painter showed himself as an absolute master in the use of light. During the General National Exhibition, held in June 1894 in the then Lwów [now Lviv, Ukraine], the painter was awarded the highest distinction for, among others, this work.