Józef Oleszkiewicz

Józef Oleszkiewicz (Lithuanian: Juozapas Oleškevičius, Russian: Юзеф Иванович Олешкевич; c.1777, in Šiluva – 5 October 1830, in Saint Petersburg) was a Polish painter, known primarily for his portraits and his eccentric behavior.

He studied anatomy and physiology but switched to drawing and painting, taking classes with Franciszek Smuglewicz and Jan Rustem.

His painting of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna providing for the poor won him the title of "Academician" from the Imperial Academy of Arts in 1812.

In regard to the latter, he was a prominent Freemason, eventually becoming part of the upper hierarchy at the lodges in Saint Petersburg and Vilnius, until they were outlawed in 1822.

He was also a vegetarian and an early advocate of animal rights, lived in a house full of cats, and gave most of his large income to the poor, in person.