Jurko Bohun. A drawing by Zygmunt Madejewski (1884)

In 1884-1885, this little known Polish artist made a series of drawings depicting characters of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel “With Fire and Sword” (“Ogniem i mieczem”) for the Polish literary-cultural journal “Ognisko Domowe”, which was being published in Lwów (Львів).

As far as I know, he made ten portraits: Jan Skrzetuski, Jurko Bohun, Jan Onufry Zagłoba, Longinus Podbipięta, Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, Bohdan Chmielnicki, Michał J. Wołodyjowski, Helena Kurcewiczówna, Kniahini Kurcewiczowa and Rzędzian. I’ve succeeded in finding only six of them, so four still wait to be discovered. But I will try to find each of them. Wish me luck.

Jan Skrzetuski. A drawing by Zygmunt Madejewski (1884/1885)

Bohdan Chmielnicki. A drawing by Zygmunt Madejewski (1885)

Longinus Podbipięta. A drawing by Zygmunt Madejewski (1885)

Jeremi Wiśniowiecki. A drawing by Zygmunt Madejewski (1885)

Jan Onufry Zagłoba. A drawing by Zygmunt Madejewski (1884)

360th Anniversary of Bohun’s Death

17.02.1664 Ivan Bohun was executed in the Polish military camp

Ivan Bohun (Іван Богун) was a real person, an authentic Ukrainian Cossack hero from the mid-17th century and one of the most important Cossack commanders during the uprising of Bohdan Chmielnicki (Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Богдан Хмельницький), which started in 1648 (‘Ukrainian Independence War’).

As such, he has many diverse appearances in the Ukrainian culture and in the Polish culture (in literature, folklore, visual arts, music, opera, theater, cinema, etc.). Perhaps, the most famous worldwide (or just Tumblr-wide) of them all is the novel “With Fire and Sword” (“Ogniem i mieczem”) by the Polish writer, Henryk Sienkiewicz, from 1883/1884. H. Sienkiewicz changed Bohun’s name to Jurko, but described some of his authentic deeds, i.a. the role, he played during the battle of Beresteczko, 1651. The novel itself, as a part of the well-known “Trylogia” (which occupies an important place in the Polish culture), has many adaptations in art, theater, radio and cinema. The most famous of them is the Polish film from 1999, directed by Jerzy Hoffman. So…

Bohun’s appearance in that film is not everything, in fact, it is only the tip of the iceberg of Bohun’s myth. There is much more to explore and admire.

More information about artworks presented in this post you can find here:

It is a fan&didactic account, existing only for the Cossack Heroes glory and promoting Ukrainian heritage worldwide. Copyright belongs to the Artists/Museums.

140 YEARS OF LOVE!

140 years ago, 2.05.1883 the first chapter of the novel “With Fire and Sword” (“Ogniem i mieczem”, the first part of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s “Trilogy”) was published in the daily Warsaw newspaper “Słowo”. A new epoch has begun!

1. Jan Skrzetuski and Jurko Bohun by Piotr Stachiewicz (1858-1938), Polish artist, painter and illustrator, c. 1898.
2. Jan Skrzetuski and Jurko Bohun by Szymon Kobyliński (1927-2002), Polish graphic artist and cartoonist, 1998.
3. No further explanations required:-)

I cannot imagine my life without Them!*

*I’m praising here the character (Bohun) only, definitely not the actor playing him in the film.

140 YEARS OF LOVE!

140 years ago, 16.05.1883 Jurko Bohun spoke to the Readers for the first time, from a page of the daily Warsaw newspaper “Słowo”, where the novel “With Fire and Sword” (“Ogniem i mieczem”, the first part of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s “Trilogy”) was being published in tiny chapters from 2.05.1883.

Witaj-że, witaj Synku! Witaj nam Sokole!

Two semi-historical Knights from H. Sienkiewicz’s novel “With Fire and Sword” (“Ogniem i mieczem”): Jurko Bohun (Ukrainian Cossack) and Jan Skrzetuski (Polish hussar)

Vintage Polish postcards from 1998 by Szymon Kobyliński (1927–2002), famous Polish artist, satirist and cartoonist.