Born on November 19, 1856, in Warszawa, Józef Ryszkiewicz was a prominent Polish painter, illustrator, and arts administrator who passed away in his hometown on May 19, 1925. He was the father of painter Józef "Świrysz" Ryszkiewicz (1888–1942). Renowned for his battle scenes and works in the equestrian genre, Ryszkiewicz excelled at creating large-scale dioramic paintings. His artistic journey began with the "Munich School," which is often regarded as a successor to the styles of artists such as Juliusz Kossak and Józef Brandt. After 1890, Ryszkiewicz's style evolved under the influence of French Impressionism, adopting a "clearer and brighter" color palette, as noted by Polish artist Henryk Piątkowski (1853–1932). He spent the majority of his life in Warsaw, where he was actively involved in organizing artistic events and held various administrative roles. Ryszkiewicz exhibited internationally, showcasing his works in cities such as Vienna (1886), Prague at the Rudolfinum (1890), Munich (1892), and at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893) and San Francisco (1894).

Career Highlights - 1875–1882: Studied at the Academies of Fine Art in Saint Petersburg and Munich. - 1877: Made his debut at the age of 21 in an exhibition at the Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych ("Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts") in Warsaw, where he would go on to regularly exhibit for almost 45 years and later serve on the TZSP board. - 1882: Co-founded the Salon Artystyczny ("Artistic Salon") association, centered around a gallery in the Hotel Europejski, owned by art dealer Aleksander Krywult (1845–1903). Ryszkiewicz curated numerous group exhibitions for the Salon from 1887 to 1901. - 1896: Collaborated with Stanisław Jasieński (1850–1929) and others on the diorama Stara Warszawa ("Old Warsaw"), which was a highlight of the Wystawa Higieniczną ("Hygienic Exhibition") in Warsaw. This type of diorama, known as "panoramas," featured a 360° oil canvas and was set in a circular exhibition hall, allowing viewers to observe from the center. Ryszkiewicz gained experience with smaller dioramas, including W parku ("In the Park") in 1892 and Zbrodnia ("Crime") in 1895, which drew attention for their realistic depictions. - Early 1898: Premiered his third solo diorama, Oblężenie Częstochowy przez Szwedów ("Siege of Częstochowa by the Swedes"), at the Artistic Salon, showcasing a significant episode from the Second Northern War. This panorama received widespread acclaim and toured various cities, including Częstochowa (1899) and Łódź (July 1900), before returning to Warsaw in 1907. - 1899: Co-founded the association Zjednoczeni Artyści: Malarze, Rzeźbiarze i Architekci ("United Artists: Painters, Sculptors & Architects"), aimed at promoting religious and decorative art. - April–November 1900: Served as the Polish delegate on the international jury at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, where his painting Śmierć markietanki ("Death of the Marquette") was awarded a bronze medal, now housed in the National Museum in Warsaw. - November 1900: Joined a team of assistants led by Wojciech Kossak to work on the cyclorama Bitwa pod piramidami ("Battle of the Pyramids"), depicting Napoleon's invasion of Egypt. This 15×115-meter oil canvas debuted in April 1901 but ultimately failed commercially. - 1901–1912: Held the position of president of the Warszawskie Towarzystwo Artystyczne ("Warsaw Art Society"), succeeding Wojciech Gerson (1831–1901).