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FRAMING INFORMATION
1st Art Gallery offers the option to receive your painting ready to hang or rolled in a tube.
Currently, for safety, we're able to ship framed paintings only up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached, the framing option is automatically disabled.
However, if you are interested in stretching or framing a painting larger than 24x36 inches (60x90 cm), please contact one of our customer success associates or let us know in your order notes. We will send you a catalog of our large framing styles and pricing options.
Unframed rolled canvas orders will arrive rolled inside a protective tube with an extra 1.5" white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it locally.


Stanczyk, or to give its full title, Stanczyk during a Ball at the Court of Queen Bona after the Loss of Smolensk is an iconic Polish painting from the late-nineteenth century painter Jan Matejko. Completed in 1862, the painter took pride of place in the collection of the Warsaw National Museum in 1924 before being stolen first by the Nazis and then by the Soviet Union, and not returned to its birthplace until after the death of Stalin in the mid-1950s. Such was the commercial popularity of Stanczyk that it catapulted the painter Matejko to fame, and remains one of the most memorable works of Polish painting.
Having seemingly soaked up the turbulent times it lived through, Stanczyk is a figurative reproduction of a contemplative and morbid jester juxtaposed against the vitality and joy of a ceremonial party. The subject, the court jester of King Sigismund I the Old, was a popular icon in sixteenth-century Poland and garnered much more political and social respect that his fellow entertainers. Famous for his wit, intellect and wry satirical mind, Stanczyk the jester embodied the successes of a Poland at the height of its influence, triumph, and national pride.
However, researchers have found little evidence of his existence, pointing to the possibility that the man was devised as an imagined avatar of a Polish golden age. The figure must have been widely known by the nineteenth century as Matejko expressed a fascination with Stanczyk that had begun in his youth. Completed at the age of only twenty-four, the artist's figurative reproduction of this legendary figure caught the popular imagination of a nation in a transitional moment in its history. Using his own face as the model of the solemn jester, Matejko utilized the personal to describe the political.
The leading figure stands out from the dark atmosphere by wearing a bright red jester costume. Although his clothing is loud and playful, his expression and pose are depressing – as he sits back on a large chair, resting his elbows on the arm and intertwining his fingers. On the right side of the background, a party seems to be taking place with many people. There are many decorated curtains, fabrics and rugs in the environment and a warm light shines from the left side of the composition.
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Real Oil Paints, Real Brushes, Real Artists, Real Art. The Certificate of Authenticity which arrives with every painting provides an assurance and verifies the authenticity of the hand painted fine art reproduction you purchased. Each oil painting is created by hand using only the finest canvas and oil paints available.
Important Notes About Your Painting:
If you have any request to alter your reproduction of Stanczyk, you must email us after placing your order and we'll have an artist contact you. If you have another image of Stanczyk that you would like the artist to work from, please include it as an attachment. Otherwise, we will reproduce the above image for you exactly as it is.
- Ordered without a frame, it will be delivered in protective tube within 21-28 business days.
- When ordering the painting framed - allow additional 5-7 days for delivery. The painting will arrive ready to hang.
- Every painting is painted by an experienced artist.
- No printing or digital imaging techniques are used.
- 100% hand painted oil painting on artist grade canvas.
- Painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
- 365 days Money Back Guarantee.
- Enjoy Free Express Shipping.
- Hand crafted means unique to every owner. Each canvas reproduction may vary slightly in brush details due to the nature of being hand painted, so no two paintings are the same.
- For those customers who appreciate quality and want to own an artist's work as it was meant to be enjoyed we are here for you.

Free shipping is included in the price of the painting. Once the painting is ready and dry enough to ship, we will roll it and ship it in a sturdy cardboard tube.
We always ship express via courier to ensure your order reaches you as soon as possible - normally within three business days. The total delivery time from the moment you place your order until the package is delivered to your door is normally between three to four weeks.

If, in the unlikely event you were dissatisfied with the painting after reviewing it in person, it can be returned for a full refund for up to 365 days after delivery.
When you receive the painting; you are free to return it for more revisions or else for a full refund minus our actual shipping cost -- which is, on average, $35 per painting.

1st Art Gallery provides a full warranty covering manufacturing and material defects for paintings purchased from our website. The warranty covers damage for normal use. Damage caused by incidents such as accidents or inappropriate use are not covered.
Depending on the degree of damage to the warranted painting, it will either be repaired or replaced. This warranty service is provided free of charge.
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