Focusing on fantastical, biblical and otherwise ancient-inspired subjects, Wilhelm Kotarbinsky s work exists at the nexus of academism, Art Nouveau, and Symbolism. The aestheticism, and at times sentimentalized exoticism of Kotarbinsky s paintings has been attributed to such widely different origins as his Polish heritage, and the artist s extended stay in Rome during the early part of his career.

Kotarbinsky had a rather difficult climb to prominence, with abject poverty being one of the few constants during the early years of his training. Lacking the support of his father, Kotarbinsky was obliged to borrow money from his uncle in order to fund his study in Italy in 1871, where he would remain for the next 16 yea...