Battle of Grunwald, Historic painting at National Museum in Warsaw, Poland
Battle of Grunwald is an oil painting at the National Museum in Warsaw showing the decisive medieval clash between Polish-Lithuanian troops and the Teutonic Knights. The work measures 987 by 426 centimeters (about 32 by 14 feet) and hangs in the main hall of the museum.
Jan Matejko completed this monumental work in 1878 after four years of gathering materials and studying historical documents about the 1410 battle. The composition aimed to strengthen Polish national identity during the late 19th century.
The work shows Grand Duke Vytautas dressed in red alongside the death of Ulrich von Jungingen as the central moment. This scene represents the victory of Polish-Lithuanian forces over the Teutonic Order.
The work can be viewed from several angles in the main hall of the National Museum, with the best sightlines standing a few meters back. An extensive restoration in 2012 brought out the original colors and details.
During World War II, the Nazis offered a 10 million mark bounty for this work. Polish resistance members hid it near Lublin to prevent its destruction.
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