Landscape from Ireland
signed 'Ruszkowski' (lower right)
oil on canvas
76 x 50cm

Provenance:
Sale; Christie's South Kensington, Thursday 11 May 2004, lot 93

Born on July 12, 1907, in Tomaszow, Poland, Zdzislaw Ruszkowski displayed an early affinity for art, no doubt influenced by his father - a painter, who took delight in bringing his son with him on painting expeditions. His formative years were marked by a deep curiosity and passion for painting, leading him to pursue formal education in the field of fine arts. Ruszkowski's academic journey took him to the Cracow Art Academy, where he honed his skills under the guidance of renowned Polish artists. In 1935, he travelled to Paris, where his work would take on a different character and became more explicitly influenced by masters including Titian, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Rembrandt – stylistically disparate, though linked by their dexterous handling of light and colour. It was during this period that Ruszkowski began to develop his unique artistic approach, characterized by a fusion of classical techniques with modern sensibilities.

In 1939, interrupted by the outbreak of war, Ruszkowski joined the Polish army in France. Travelling across Europe by foot, Ruszkowski ultimately found himself in Scotland, where he met and married his wife, Jennifer McCormack. Following the war, Ruszkowski and his wife divided their time between London, Cornwall and his studio in Lyme Regis. Whilst he is, perhaps, not a well-known name today, during his lifetime Ruszkowski was able to support his family through his work as an artist, exhibiting alongside the London Group and being represented by galleries including the Leicester Galleries, Roland, Browse & Delbanco and Jablonsky Gallery.

Ruszkowski's body of work is a testament to his mastery of various artistic genres. He was a versatile artist, equally adept at portraiture, landscape and still life painting. His signature style combined meticulous attention to detail with a profound emotional depth. Ruszkowski's use of colour and light was particularly noteworthy, as he skilfully captured the nuances of the human form, the grandeur of nature and the subtleties of everyday objects.