Stanisław Tarnowski was a son of Walerian Tarnowskiego and Ernestyna, brother of Władysław Tarnowski m.in., and cousin of Stanisław Tarnowski, called in youth „Czarny” („Black”), later the Rector of Jagellonian University. When Stanisław „Biały” („White”) was called from colour of hair. Initially, he learnt with Jesuit College in Lvov together with brother; then, in Cracow under direction of Szymon Dutkiewicz; his father's relative Father Jan Scipio del Campo, and Wincenty Pol, in free moments he wandered through the neighbourhoods of Cracow and Tatras. Later, he studied in Cracow until the father's death and inheriting earthly estate, which he administered. He learnt drawing and painting with Jan Kanty Maszkowski (together with Artur Grottger), in Cracow with painter of architecture Maksymilian Cercha and landscapist Leon Dembowski. In 1856 and 1857 he had larger exhibitions in Cracow. Stanisław Tarnowski's paintings were to 1938 r. in possession his relatives, mainly in Śniatynka. After World War II Stanisław's paintings are in Polish museums, especially in National Museum in Cracow. In 1863, Stanisław fought in January Insurrection, among others in Battle of Radziwiłłów. After Insurrection, he more seldom depicted, but he stayed sensitive on beauty and became art collector.