Young artists, no doubt, respected strict Professor Matejko. But, nevertheless, many reproached him for conservatism, rejection of new trends; the students, not listening to the prohibitions of the professor, sought to go to Paris, the artistic Mecca of Europe. Despite the fact that Mateiko had several dozen students, he could not raise worthy followers.
Those who tried to continue his tradition, such as Jan Joy, author of Polonia, 1890-1891, were not able to repeat the master’s achievements. However, the artist had a great influence on the work of those who later left his care, Stanislav Wyspianski, Leon Vychulkovsky, Josef Mehhofer, Yatsek Malchevsky.
In their early works, it is strongly felt. Wyspianski, in the spirit of mystical historicism, designed the stained glass windows of the Lviv Cathedral, 1892-1894, And Malchevsky, in which Mateyko saw his successor, in his “software” works – “Melancholy” and “Vicious Circle”, 1895-1897 – and showed himself to be an artist following the lead of national myths.