Ignacy Cejzyk – z Podlasia na Syberię (1779–1858). Szkic portretu biograficznego

Abstract

The article presents the silhouette of a Polish aristocrat, coming from Podlasie region, Ignacy Julian Cejzyk – an artist, forger, Siberian forced laborer. His fate is described starting from his childhood, through adult life, to his death in exile – not neglecting the psychological sketch of Ignacy Cejzyk’s personality and the picture of his social functioning. The text organized and systematized all the available primary sources of information pertaining to Cejzyk. Reminiscences and reflections of a different Polish exile, Agaton Giller, are also broadly presented. They constitute an unused so far, yet coming from the epoch, cognitively valuable and scientifically significant, source of knowledge concerning Cejzyk’s life and heritage. Additionally, the author of the article analyses Cejzyk’s artistic works: sculptures and sketches; and the criminal aspect of his activities, i.e. forgeries. The title of this article has been presented in its historical and sociological dimensions. Primary sources material, which has been thoroughly verified, has been dealt with according to the scientific method. The inspiration and the main aim of this publication is to satisfy the need to create an expressive biographical sketch of the outstanding figure – Ignacy Cejzyk.