THE ASSEMBLY HALL of Lviv State University "Lvivska Polytechnica" main building is decorated with 11 oil pictures created in 1880-s by Jan Matejko, a famous Polish artist who painted small composition sketches, which were then enlarged for the hall by masters of the Krakow Fine Arts School under the author's supervision. The conception of the series of pictures entitled "Triumph of Progress" made especially for Lviv Polytechnic was to depict allegorically (based on stories from the Bible and ancient mythology) the idea of evolution of human thought and science as the basis for spiritual and technical progress, as the manifestation of human being and its activities that may lead man to happiness on earth or to great misfortune.

TRINITY. Science and knowledge in general as manifestation of mankind's spiritual strength have no focus or centre on earth. According to Christian teaching, their source is in the Trinity which, as Dante said, is emanation for everything. The triangle includes images of Father-God, Son-God holding a crown of thorns as a symbol of torment and labour destined for human being, and Holy Spirit as the source of reason and will to master sciences and acquire knowledge. Holy Spirit is personified by a young man with a burning torch in his forehead which is a sign of inspiration, ability to think consciously and cognize the world. Holy Spirit radiates angels' heads symbolizing rays of knowledge that permeate the Universe and inspire human mind.

FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
The centrals figure of the picture is Human Genius enlightened with reason, knowledge of the sense of life and need for creative work. Human Genius is depicted as the master of the Earth maintained in equilibrium by the strength of his hands and spirit transformed by his reason and activity. He is supported and inspired by Love and Hope, the main incentives to creative work, Hope even touching him with her hand; the radiant Faith keeps despondently a little aloof, but always ready to come with consolation. In the left-hand side of the picture, seven evil forces are lurking to attack Human Genius, and obstruct man's beneficial actions. These are Arrogance, Slovenliness, Laziness, Anger, and Greed and Avarice, and below in the foreground there is Envy, always disgusting albeit embellished, her true face being reflected in the mirror.

DIVINE INSPIRATION.
It symbolizes human efforts, aspirations to discovery of nature's mysteries since prehistoric time. A mature man is sitting on the shore of a boundless ocean, pondering over natural phenomena. His attention is drawn by a mammonth's skull, an Egyptian mummy, an Indian temple carved in a rock and other antiquities. His environment is wild, mysterious and of an unexplored nature. Man must comprehend it, grasp it with his mind, casting a glance at the past and the future. Human mind tries to find supernatural divine forces in the phenomena of being, and that is why the man looking into the book of science sees light that comes from above from an angel, holding a burning torch and the Book of Revelation that teaches the holy truth: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

VICES OF MANKIND.
The picture shows how mankind is affected by negative instincts and passions that eclipse the science's sense of high truth and beneficial goal. A street of a big town, theatres, and palaces lit with electricity can be seen in the picture. Nevertheless, despair, moral and spiritual poverty dominate the society where all the achievements of science are only applied to multiply property and riches. It is a world of narrow practicality and stock exchange. The fruit of life filled with cupidity and greediness is personified by a selfish man grabbing a bag with money, and a presumptuous woman with horns on her head and golden calf in her hand sitting on his back as a symbol of envy and Mammon. The miserable are emploring the woman who is also looked at with vengefulness.

SATAN'S TRIUMPH.
The picture shows the triumph of Evil as a result of applying human reason and knowledge for personal purposes, usurpation of the world, enrichment and dictation. A giant figure of Satan is dominating the world. Satan tramples on common sense, makes people set on fire and devastates everything that has been created for human happiness and joy. He is standing over the body of a suicide who has murdered his children and as a representative of mankind personifies nihilism, stupidity and lack of faith. The Devil is stepping onto the suicide's head victoriously, and is pointing at an eclipsed sun as a symbol of decay and bedimmed mind. He seems to be scoffing:"This has been done by me." But this apparent victory of Evil is notultimate and decisive, because a mother leaning at a destroyed home altar still feels her child's pulse, has pity on her baby and cherishes a hope... And this means that the triumph of Evil in the history of mankind is temporary and transient.

GOD'S MOTHER CONSOLES BELIEVERS.
The weak light of motherly hope of the previous picture grows brighter with time revealing complete rebirth of the humankind through the woman first and foremost. The home and mother are the sources of personal and social virtues that lead to knowledge of the truth. On the mercy bench, as an embodiment of woman's highest virtues, is sitting Virgin Mary attracting the good ones and the wicked ones, sinners and aggrievedones who seek refuge and protection in her. This is triumph of love inhuman deeds. Jesus's crown supported by angels is shining in the sky asa symbol of human lot. Even Satan himself who is believed to be the shadow of Evil is putting his head to Virgin's feet.

POETRY,MUSIC AND HISTORY.
The revival of mercy, morality, love and other virtues favours the evolution of science and arts. The picture portrays Poetry, Music and History as manifestation of inspired human soul. They are personifiedas three beauties who have come together near a rock on a seashore washed by foaming waves. Winged Poetry is pointing to the heaven as the source of higher inspiration. Music is looking at her with admiration, touchingthe rock, and rapt History is watching the flow of the stream intently (There is an owl nearby, it is a symbol of wisdom). History is putting something down into the book of life...

SCULPTURE,PAINTING AND ARCHITECTURE.
This picture symbolizes further evolution of art. There is a shrub in the middle of the picture. The shrub germinates flowers: lily (on the left), rose (in the centre) and rhododendron (onthe right), symbols of Sculpture, Painting and Architecture respectively. The stems of the shrub are covered with thorns, but it is embraced by Human Genius who is fond of arts, loves beauty and nurses these allegorical flowerspersonified by young beauties joining their hands in a fit of union. Thecentral group is surrounded by symbols of these arts. The rainbow symbolizes the palette. On the left there is an unfinished sculpture. On the lowerright there is an antique capital. An eagle is carrying laurels to awardHuman Genius.

INVENTION OF RAILWAY.
With evolution of natural science, man achieves successesin applied sciences and technology. Human mind investigates the forces of nature and uses them for its good. This is indicated by means of the figures of farmers (the left-hand side of the picture), the silhouettes of factories (on the right), and the steamboat on the river. The central personages symbolize the invention of the steam-engine and development of railway. The woman personifies water, the man fire. The struggle andinteraction of the two elements gives birth to the agile and sprightlychild drawing the cart, vapour that was the motive force of scientificand technological progress at the end of the 19th century.

INVENTION OF TELEGRAPH.
Expansion of energy sources and discovery of electricityprovide new technological possibilities for man, enable him to master spaceand time. This picture symbolizes the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cablethat connected Europe and America. The beauty the right-hand side of thepicture personifies the Old World, Europe riding a bull (which is an incarnationof Zeus of ancient mythology). The beauty on the left personifies America(which is symbolized by a swift dolphin in foaming oceanic waves). As the beauties are about to shake their hands, a flash of electricity is producedwhich symbolizes immediate connection of the distant continents unlike Columbus's ship sailing slowly across the ocean amidst lightnings and storms.

SUEZ CANAL.
Human mind and will, scientific and technological progress can alter the face of the planet. The picture expresses the idea of connecting Egypt and Asia by means of the Suez Canal. The beauty on the right personifies Asia, the one on the left is for Egypt. Their handshake symbolizes common interests, international contacts, union of races and continents. The perfidiousand malicious crocodile is driven by the Suez Canal waves away into the desert. It means that the forces of good reason and creative work of manare gaining victory. And the sun is rising in the east as a sign of this victory...