Portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko, before 1795

What it is

This oil painting, made before 1795 by an unidentified artist, shows Tadeusz Kościuszko as a young man. Its exact date and painter remain uncertain.

Why it matters

As one of the earlier surviving portraits made during his lifetime, it shows him before the fame of his later military campaigns and imprisonment, offering a contrast to portraits made after those events shaped his public image.

Look closer

• Why might the painter of this portrait be unknown, and how does that affect how much we can trust details about it?
• What does the visible damage and cracking on the canvas tell us about the object's history?
• How does this young, informal image compare with later, more heroic portraits of Kościuszko?