On 12 February 1833, Aleksander Czekanowski was born in Krzemieniec in Volhynia. He trained as a geologist, but was not given the freedom to pursue his career as he was sent to Siberia at the age of 30 for taking part in the January Uprising.

Prayer of the Bar Confederates before the Battle of Lanckorona, oil painting by Artur Grottger.