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6 May 1909 |
Born in Warsaw, Poland (Michal Ryszard Kalitowicz).
Son of Izabella Malwina KALITOWICZ
Son of a single mother, she was an eminent theatre actress. |
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1913-1914 |
He is in Poland. We have photos of him taken in Warsaw. |
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1915 |
He is in Leningrad, this is also proven by a photography. |
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May 1928 |
He studies at M.G.G.Z.
Local School of Applied Art and Paint in Warsaw.
His teachers are: Szospkowski, Noskowski, Butrymowicz. |
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1930 / 1931 |
Institute of Plastic Arts in Warsaw.
His teachers are: Borowski, Skodzylas, Rzecki… |
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12 October 1930 |
We find him in Zakopane –Tatrass
He obtains a grant from the Ministry of Culture and Public Education in Poland which will enable him to go to France. This financial help will sustain him during several years. |
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31 July 1933 |
Date of arrival in France where he works as a painter with Ozenfant and especially with Olga Boznanska. He attends lectures at the Sorbonne in Paris (French Civilisation). |
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1934 / 1936 |
He goes to the art school Paul Colin (Paris 17th). |
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1937 |
He obtains a bronze medal at the International Exhibition in Paris. Member of the “Salon des Indépendants”, he also displays his work at the “Salon d’Automne”. Mainly recognised as a portraitist, he also paints still lifes. He has also painted theatre decorations, illustrations, advertisements and theatre costumes. |
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July 1938 |
First private exhibition at Lucy Krogh’s. |
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3 September 1939 |
Declaration of war, he lives in Varengeville sur Mer - Seine Maritime, France.
He joined up voluntarily the « Army of Sikorski » which mobilized troops in France 1939/1940 – He enlisted at the city council of Varengeville sur Mer. |
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20 February 1940 |
Conscription and departure to the army – He is 1st class soldier in the 5th Regiment of Infantry in the “Special Polish Division of General Prugar-Ketling ».
He is on active service from the 10th of May to the 19th of June 1940 in the East of France (Defence of Belfort). |
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19 June 1940 |
He is made prisoner. |
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5 months without information on his whereabouts. |
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26 November 1940 |
Finally, with the pressure of the adversary, this Polish Division is compelled to flee to Switzerland. This is the date of his arrival in Switzerland in the camp of Lützelflüch. He works in the Military Tribunal, a function he can fulfil as he has completed his high school studies.
We have proof that he is in Switzerland and that he paints in Romont, Canton of Fribourg during the war. |
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1943 |
After the restoration of the chapel in Enges (Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland) by the Poles, he paints the frescoes in that chapel called « The Soldier of Bourbaki » in honour of the injured soldiers during the two world wars 14-18 and 39-45. |
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24 May 1945 |
He leaves Switzerland to go to France. |
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29 May 1945 |
He is now released from captivity and demobilised. |
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21 March 1946 |
He obtains the French Citizenship in 1946. (Certificate N° 0669 983).
At that time he lives in Neris les Bains in Allier. |
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1st October 1946 |
Employed by the Paris City Council as art restorer. |
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From 1946 to 1963 he lives with his mother. |
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1st October 1948 |
Art teacher, delegate for the Art Schools Ecoles of Paris. |
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1st February 1956 |
Archivist at the Museum Antoine BOURDELLE until the 1st of February1957.
He lives in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, 2 rue Barrault. |
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1st February 1957 |
He fulfils the function of intermittent Assistant Manager for the Archives and State Properties Administration – Civil Engineering Department.
That same year he attends lectures at the Ecole de la Ville de Paris. A two year course on pedagogy and drawing.
The school is located 3, rue Madame Paris 6ème.
He was a member and secretary of the association “Independent artists” until 1962.
He remained single and had no posterity. |
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18 November 1963 |
He was injured during a journey. |
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3 February 1992 |
His last address was at the « Centre hospitalier Emile Roux ».
He died in Limeil Brévannes, Val de Marne, in France.
Aged 82 years, 8 months and 28 days. |
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(Some information and texts were taken from the 1993 dictionary of artists « Le Benezit Volume N°6 ». |
