Jan Polack
From his nickname it is assumed that he might have been born and/or worked in Kraków, Poland. From the mid-1470s on, he lived and worked in Munich, having previously been in Franconia. He may have taken part in the 1475 festival of the Landshut Wedding of Jadwiga Jagiellon and George of Bavaria.
Also recorded as Jon Polonus · Johan Poleck · Jon Polleck · Jon Polegkh
Jan Polack
Jan Polack · Public domain
- Name
- Jan Polack
- Born
- c. 1435
- Birthplace
- Possibly Kraków, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland
- Died
- 1519
- Place of death
- Munich, Duchy of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire
- Field
- Painting
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Poland
- Occupation
- painter
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Documentary summary
From his nickname it is assumed that he might have been born and/or worked in Kraków, Poland. From the mid-1470s on, he lived and worked in Munich, having previously been in Franconia. He may have taken part in the 1475 festival of the Landshut Wedding of Jadwiga Jagiellon and George of Bavaria.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q73889 · wikipedia · Jan Polack
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 1480, he opened his own shop in Munich, where he remained until his death. Starting in 1482, he is listed on the tax records of Munich, also as leader of the local painter guild. He visited with Michael Wohlgemuth and his art was influenced by him and by that of Veit Stoss and Hans Pleydenwurff as well as by collaboration with the woodcutter Erasmus Grasser. Documents mention many works of his which are now lost. His most important remaining work is the Weihenstephan altarpiece (1483–1485), now at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jan Polack • Born — c. 1435 • Birthplace — Possibly Kraków, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland • Died — 1519 • Place of death — Munich, Duchy of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire • Field — Painting • Patrons — City of Munich • Illustration — Jan Polack, The Recognition of the True Cross (Legend of St. Helena), panel, 46.5 × 101.6 cm, 1486. Huis Bergh collection
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Gnadenstuhl as God Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 1491 • Illustration — The Miracle of the Bear, 1489
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Kraków.
Birth place
Munich.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Jan Polack”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q73889: Jan Polack
General reference · Wikidata
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Paintings
18,717 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Jan Pauwel Gillemans the YoungerArtist
- Jan Philip van ThielenArtist
- Jan Pieter BrueghelArtist
- Jan Pieter van SuchtelenArtist
- Jan PorcellisArtist
- Jan PortieljeArtist
- Jan RiskeArtist
- Jan RoosArtist
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