Monuments of the Country’s Engraving (Pomniki rytownictwa krajowego)

Private collections of graphic art were formed in Lithuania in the 19th century. The archaeologist and ethnographer Konstanty Tyszkiewicz (1806–1868) had a significant collection of works by 17th to 19th-century Lithuanian copper engravers at Lahoysk. Copper engravings by Joseph Saunders (1773–1845), Michał Podoliński (1783–1856), Stanisław Przycki (Mauricius Carmelite, 1770–1844), and other artists were included in ‘Monuments of the Country’s Engraving’, published in Vilnius in 1858. Tyszkiewicz wrote an extensive preface for this publication on the development of graphic art in Lithuania, and gave some biographical facts about some of the artists.

The book contains 47 engravings by Stanisław Czerski (1777–1833), the priest at Salantai and the author of a Latin-Polish dictionary and ‘A Description of the Samogitian Diocese’. Most are pictures of saints, with Samogitian inscriptions. Among them is the symbolic composition Ach! Mana pyninga (Oh! My Money) showing the Grim Reaper running away with a miser’s money.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album ARS LIBRI (2022). Compiler Algimantas Muzikevičius, text authors Algimantas Muzikevičius, Rolandas Gustaitis

Private collections of graphic art were formed in Lithuania in the 19th century. The archaeologist and ethnographer Konstanty Tyszkiewicz (1806–1868) had a significant collection of works by 17th to 19th-century Lithuanian copper engravers at Lahoysk. Copper engravings by Joseph Saunders (1773–1845), Michał Podoliński (1783–1856), Stanisław Przycki (Mauricius Carmelite, 1770–1844), and other artists were included in ‘Monuments of the Country’s Engraving’, published in Vilnius in 1858. Tyszkiewicz wrote an extensive preface for this publication on the development of graphic art in Lithuania, and gave some biographical facts about some of the artists.

The book contains 47 engravings by Stanisław Czerski (1777–1833), the priest at Salantai and the author of a Latin-Polish dictionary and ‘A Description of the Samogitian Diocese’. Most are pictures of saints, with Samogitian inscriptions. Among them is the symbolic composition Ach! Mana pyninga (Oh! My Money) showing the Grim Reaper running away with a miser’s money.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album ARS LIBRI (2022). Compiler Algimantas Muzikevičius, text authors Algimantas Muzikevičius, Rolandas Gustaitis