Bronisław Jamontt

Painter and teacher. Born on 5 August 1886 near Lida (today, Belarus), died on 4 February 1957 in Toruń. Before 1908, he attended the Vilnius Drawing School. While studying law at St. Petersburg University in 1909–1910, he also took some classes at the local art academy. Having finished his studies, he returned to Vilnius and worked as a teacher of drawing in neighbouring manors, and from 1921 to 1928 taught drawing at Vilnius gymnasiums. From 1920 to 1934, with intervals, he continued art studies at Stephen Báthory University, in 1931, started to work as an assistant in the university’s landscape painting studio, in 1936, became an assistant to prof. Ferdynand Ruszczyc, and in 1937 – a professor. He painted landscapes whose stylistics evolved from Modern style elements to formism. Jamontt was one of the most prominent artists of romantic trend in interwar Vilnius – he created stylized compositions of dramatic mood with motifs of architectural monuments, stormy clouds, dynamic vegetation and powerful trees. In 1945, he moved to Poland, and was one of the founders of the Art Faculty of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. In 1946, he became its dean, and in 1953 – a doctor of art history. In 1955, he was awarded the Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. In Poland, he created monochromatic landscape studies and etchings with motifs of Toruń environs. He held some solo exhibitions in Vilnius and Poland.

Reference: Académie de Vilna. VILNIUS DRAWING SCHOOL 1866–1915. Exhibition Catalogue. Compiled by dr. J. Širkaitė, Vilnius 2017, P. 188.

B. Jamontt was born near Lida. He studied painting in Vilnius, St. Petersburg and Cracow and further improved his skills in Paris, Brussels, Rome and Florence. From 1931 he lectured at the Faculty of Arts of Vilnius University. B. Jamontt painted only landscapes, mostly with tempera and gouache on cardboard, and he sometimes used oil paints. Along with a brush, he used a spatula or cutter. From 1931 the painter was an assistant of F. Ruszczyc at the Department of Landscape Painting of Vilnius University.

Reference: Art album "The World of Landscapes" (Volume I). Compiled by N. Tumėnienė. Vilnius, LAWIN, 2010, P. 109.