Stanislaw Szukalski (1893-1987), Tobie ojczyzno! (Portrait of Zofia Jordanowska), 1953
Sanguine on paper, 48 x 64 cm (frame 62 x 78 cm).
Signed, dated in upper left corner.
Almost invisible trace of damage - the work was cut and has been professionally repaired.
PROVENANCE: The work was in the collection of Zofia and Stanislaw Jordanowski. After their deaths, it went to the collection of Stanisław Jordanowski's brother, from whom it was purchased by Tadeusz Kwiatkowski, a Polish entrepreneur operating in the United States, who, together with his wife Helena, created a huge collection of Polonica, Polish militaria and art at their estate in New Jersey. It was bought from Tadeusz and Helena Kwiatkowski by Mieczyslaw Rudek, a Polish activist and art collector from New York.
BIBILIOGRAPHY: The work was mentioned in two books published by Stanislaw Jordanowski, both of which also include a reproduction of the work (cf. attached photos).
- Stanislaw JORDANOWSKI, Vademecum malarstwa polskiego, Bicentennial Publishing Corp., New York 1988, p. 126.
- Stanisław JORDANOWSKI, Vademecum malarstwa polskiego w USA, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Ossolineum, Wrocław 1996, p. 80.
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The painting depicts a portrait of Zofia Jordanowska, heroine of World War II, wife of a prominent expert on Polish art in the USA. She was one of five women of the rank of second lieutenant with parachute training in the Home Army. Zofia Jordanowska was born on May 11, 1913 in Warsaw, the daughter of Władysław and Bronisława née Majewska. In1933 she married Capt. Stefan Sarnowski, (Stefan Teodor Sarnowski, 1899-1940, tactical clerk at the Military Geographical Institute, murdered in Katyn). In 1939, she made her way to France via Hungary, Yugoslavia and Italy. From 28 I 1940, she worked at the Relief Fund for Families of Military Persons at the Polish Embassy in Paris. After evacuation from France, she arrived in the U.K. From June 26, 1940 to July 1, 1941, she worked as a secretary in the Cultural and Educational Department of the Polish Red Cross. From September 1, 1942, she was in Branch VI of the Commander-in-Chief's Staff, with the assignment "to work in the country." She was sworn in by Michal Protasewicz ("Rawa") in London on Oct. 7, 1942.In September 1942, under the alias "Puma", "Narosz", she completed a parachute course. She received the usual parachute mark No. 0168. At the same time, a contract was signed stating that: "1. For the time of preparation for work in the Country, p. Zofia Sarnowska will receive a monthly emolument in the amount of £. 27.10.0 i.e. the emolument that officials of the Supreme Commander's Staff in London receive. When Zofia Sarnowska is sent to Poland, she will receive her emolument for 6 months, payable in U.S. dollars at the rate of L. 1 = $4. After 6 months, she will receive her national emolument at the rate set by the Commander of the Home Army. In the event that Zofia Sarnowska is unsuccessful in returning to Poland, for whatever reason, as long as she has already been paid the 6-month emolument, she will return it to the cashier of Section VI of the N.W. Army Staff in full in the currency in which she received it from the Section VI cashier's office. In the event of Ms. Sarnowska's failure to return to Poland, for whatever reason or reasons, the present agreement is automatically terminated with Ms. Sarnowska, but she will receive one month's severance pay in the amount of her regular salary. Insofar as the termination takes place on the first day of the month, the emoluments paid to Ms. Z. Sarnowska constitute her monthly severance pay."
After completing a parachute course, by decision of Maj. Jaźwinski, on June 18, 1943, she was assigned to the British F.A.N.Y. organization. She worked at the F.A.N.Y. Headquarters in London. From July 2, she underwent training at the F.A.N.Y. Training Center. The course included learning to drive cars and cartography. In July 1943, in a letter to the Chief of the Special Branch, she asked to be sent to a micro-photography course. She took the photography course and held it in the Special Branch. On September 15, 1943, she left the Special Branch of the Supreme Commander's Staff and was transferred to the Personnel Branch. She then worked in the Information and Intelligence Branch of the Supreme Commander's Staff. She finished her work as a civilian clerk in the Polish Army on October 31, 1946. So much for the archives.
Zofia was a close friend of Zofia Lesniowska, daughter of General Władysław Sikorski. She was supposed to fly with her to the Middle East; at the last minute before her departure she received other orders. She lent Lesniowska her uniform and women's closet for the trip. It was in this that General Sikorski's daughter died. On June 24, 1950, Zofia married Stanislaw Jordanowski, one of the doyens and experts on Polish art in the United States. She died in New York on May 29, 1998.
