On a huge canvas, the artist depicted the last moments of the historical battle, which took place on July 15, 1410, on the field under the town of Grunwald between the army of the crusaders and the united Polish-Lithuanian-Russian army led by King Vladislav Jagailo.
From individual episodes an extraordinarily vivid picture of the battle develops, which the artist sees as if from the “thick of events.” In the center of the composition, Mateyko placed Prince Vitold flying on a dashing racehorse. Left falls under the blows of the enemy Grand Master of the Order – Ulrich von Jungingen.
On the dais is King Vladislav Jagiello. He is closely watching the progress of the battle. Outwardly chaotic and deprived of perspective construction of the picture, Mateyko actually worked very carefully. The viewer has the impression that the remnants of the defeated army are trying to retreat, to go beyond the canvas, from the invisible depths of which they are attacked, catching up, the army of winners.
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