Leopold
Méyet (1850-1912), lawyer, man of letters, art collector,
bibliophile and donator. Since 1876 he worked as a certified lawyer,
dealing mainly with his clients’ property affairs. In 1872 he
co-created the literary and scientific periodical "Niwa"
addressed to the general public. The following year he contributed to
the creation of the Library of Legal Skills (Biblioteka Umiejętności
Prawniczych), and in 1884 to the creation of the Outlay Company of
Warsaw (Spółka Nakładowa).
Méyet came
from a Jewish family and was in favor of the assimilation of Jews
into Polish society. His interest for Polish history and culture
manifested itself in his collecting activity. He became one of the
most eminent collectors of memorabilia mainly concerning the Polish
Romantic period. He often made use of them in his scientific
research, for example while editing Julisz Słowacki’s letters. In
his collection one can distinguish sections dedicated to Chopin,
Moniuszko, Mickiewicz, Krasiński and Słowacki, composed of various
memorabilia and archive records, manuscripts and bibliophile editions
of books. The themes of the prints in Méyet’s collection
harmonised with its general character and served as an ichnographic
complement to his favorite subjects. Méyet had many friends
amidst contemporary Polish writers; he was especially close to Eliza
Orzeszkowa.
He stored his
collections in his private apartment, which very much resembled a
museum, and made them available for scientific research. Most of the
collection was given to the Museum of Fine Arts, that is to the
present National Museum in Warsaw. The Polish Graphic Art Room houses
many prints depicting Polish landscapes, Varsaviana, portraits
of distinguished Polish figures (mainly of Mickiewicz and Słowacki).
Piotr P. Czyż
translated by Anna Kiełczewska
Selected prints
Anthony
Cardon (1739-1813) after drawing of Richard Cosway
(1742-1821) Portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko, 1798
Punch
engraving, roulette, ribbed paper with a filigree, 25,8 x 30,4 [27,2 x 34,1]
Signed bottom
left: R. Cosway R. A. delin.t.; bottom right: Anth.y Cardon
sculp.t;
Inscribed bottom center:: GENERAL THADDEUS KOSCIUSZKO
National Museum
in Warsaw, Inv.no. Gr.Pol.15383
Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
Louis
Philibert Debucourt (1755–1832) after the drawing by Jean-Pierre
Norblin de la Gourdaine (1745–1830) Polish
Lady and Girl from the Region of Podlasie, two plates from
the cycle Collection de Costumes polonais, [1818]
Colored
aquatint, paper, 25,7 x 16,4 [37 x 27,5]; 25,5 x 16,3 [37,1 x
27,9]
Signed bottom left: Norblin del.; bottom center:
Déposé à la Direction; bottom right:
Debucourt sculp.
The
first composition inscribed bottom center: Polish Lady in Ancient
Costume. | DAME POLONAISE | dans l'ancien costume.| The second
composition inscribed bottom center: Podlasianka PAYSANNE DE
POLESIE.
National Museum in Warsaw, Inv.no.Gr.Pol.2490, Inv.no.Gr.Pol.2477
Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
Carl
August Richter (1770-1848) after drawing of Juliusz Schürer Panorama
of Warsaw, 1838
Coloured etching, paper, 27,5 x 46,2
Signed: à Varsovie chez Frères Pellizzaro - Richter sculp. - dessiné
d'après nature par Schürer 1838.
Inscribed:
Warszawa - Varsovie
National Museum in Warsaw, Inv.no.Gr.Pol.4497
Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
Antoni
Oleszczyński (1794-1879) after locket of Władysław Oleszczyński
(1808-1866) Portrait of Juliusz Słowacki, 1852
Steel
engraving, paper, [16 x 11,5]
National Museum in Warsaw,
Inv.no.11761
Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
Antoine Maurin
(1793-1860) Portrait of Adam Mickiewicz, 1855
Lithography, paper, 26,9 x 18,5 [45 x 30,7]
Signed bottom left: Archives de la Bque Imple; center: Imp. Lemercier
Paris; right: Lith. par A. Maurin.; Inscribed
bottom center: 3
ADAM MICKIEWICZ | POETA | 1798 + 1855 | WARSZAWA Wydanie DAZIARO.
National Museum in Warsaw,
Inv.no.Gr.Pol.22686 Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
Edward
Gorazdowski (1843-1901) after drawing of Elwiro Michał Andriolli
(1836-1893) Meir, Lejbele and Szmul, illustration for Eliza Orzeszkowa's novel Meir Ezofowicz, 1878
Wood-engraving,
paper, 19,1 x 13 [29,7 x 19,8]
Signed bottom left: 1877 |
EAndriolli; bottom right: E. GORAZDOWSKI.
Inscribed:
Meir, Lejbele i Szmul.
National Museum in Warsaw,
Inv.no.25379/8
Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
Elwiro
Michał Andriolli (1837-1893) Woodblock with an Illustration
for Eliza Orzeszkowa's novel Niziny, 1885
Pencil,
white gouache, boxwood [14,5 x 10,6]
Signed bottom right in reflection: 1885 |
Andriolli
National Museum in Warsaw,
Inv.no.Gr.Pol.4010
Donated by Leopold Méyet, 20 XII 1915
