Jan Gawiński

Who was Jan Gawiński?

Jan z Wielomowic Gawiński was a Polish baroque poet.

Gawiński is counted into the classical generation of Sarmatians – the generation of John III Sobieski, though his nobility is not certain. He descended likely from town Wilamowice near Cracow. He studied in the branch of Jagellon University in Biała Podlaska. Next he was a courtier of bishop Charles Ferdinand Vasa. He may has fought with Cossacks. Finally he settled down in Cracow and got married with Małgorzata Lajtner. There he worked in several offices, for instance the steward of salt works in Wieliczka and Bochnia. He was also the best friend of Wespazjan Kochowski – they have found the second wives for each another.

He used to write much and well. The most famous are his idyls, taking pattern from Anacreon, Szymon Szymonowic and ancient Latin poets, gloryfing life in the village and published many times. Very interesting are also Dworzanki albo Epigrammata polskie. He has written a poem Clipaeus christianitatis in praise of John III Sobieski defeating Turkey, a series of epigrams Nagrobki, a Latin poem on the death of Krzysztof Wilski Planctus and translations of works of Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski as well.