Founding of the Academy, 1361–1399–1400 AD, from the series “History of Civilization in Poland”

Matejko's panel on the Founding of the Academy commemorates the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, tracing its foundation through the dates 1361 (original foundation by Casimir the Great) and 1399-1400 (refounding and endowment by Queen Jadwiga). The university was the intellectual heart of medieval and early modern Poland and one of central Europe's oldest institutions of higher learning. Matejko revered it as his own city's greatest monument, and its inclusion in the civilization series underscored his conviction that scholarly institutions were as heroic as military campaigns in the story of a nation's survival.

Architectural setting is prominent, with the university's medieval Gothic forms providing the backdrop for figures in scholarly and royal dress. The palette is more restrained than some other panels — cool stone greys, dark scholarly robes — the better to focus attention on faces and gestures.