Bishop Piotr Gembicki was one of the most meritorious benefactors of the Wawel Cathedral in Kraków. Among numerous goldworks donated personally by the bishop to the Cathedral there was a gold chalice in 1643, a gold monstrance in 1647, silver figures of Saints Sigismund and Ladislas (of approx. 20 kg each) in 1653, silver reliquaries of Saints Venerandus and Maschalina and a wooden coffin for relics, lined with velvet and decorated with silver fixtures before 1654.
Subsequently after his death the following valuables were given to the Cathedral by executors of Bishop's last will: a gold cross with diamonds to adorn a monstrance, a set of gold figures representing the Christ Crucified, the Saviour, St. Mary, St. John the Baptist and the Apostles, bought in 1656 from Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga, two silver altar sets (cross and six chandeliers), silver basin with a jug, silver crosier. According to the Bishop's will also some mobilia from Kraków's Bishop Palace were granted to the Cathedral like "a pair of red velvet Italian chairs with gilded wood" and another "high gilded chair with statues of Saints Peter and Paul".
Monstrance donated by Bishop Piotr Gembicki to the Wawel Cathedral by Anonymous from Bologna and Kraków, ca. 1647, Wawel Cathedral Treasury.
Throne of Bishop Piotr Gembicki with statues of Saints Peter and Paul and his coat of arms by Anonymous from Kraków, between 1642 and 1654, Wawel Cathedral.
The General Inventory of the Wilanów Palace from November 10th, 1696 is a document preserved in the Archive of Old Documents in Warsaw. It includes approximately 3500 items - 433 paintings, 1200 thalers worth jewels (only priced positions) and 4801 grzywnas (1100 kg) of silver (only positions with weight included) supervised by burgraves Brochocki and Cieszkowski and delivered by supervisors of silver Mr. Dyniewicz and Hyacynt Kredencerz. The document was prepared in Złoczów for Prince Aleksander Sobieski by burgrave Stanisław Cieszkowski basing on earlier General Register.
The documents provides supplementary information on some of the most precious items in the Royal Collection like the canopy above the King’s bed which was described by Papal nuntio in Poland Andrea Santa Croce as “a gobelin with pearls and precious stones” presented to the King by shah of Persia. According to the inventory, the canopy was made from rich velvet “Persian fabric” with colorful pattern with figures on gold background. However the inventory does not include some rarities from the King’s library, promised by the King to the Fatebenefratelli in Lwów, like for example “one horn of a sea unicorn whale, crocodile, a head of a sawfish (or a crocodile), whale fin, rhinoceros horn, sea cancer”.
(Extract)
Jewels (172 items) No. 1. | P. Ale: | Pure gold watch set with diamonds | 580 thalers No. 31. | P. Const: | IESVS monogram set with diamonds with three pearls | 220 thalers No. 36. | P. Alex: | Image of Our Lady set with diamonds | 200 thalers No. 40. | P. Ale: | Jasper figurine with gold, set with diamonds, emeralds and rubies | 150 thalers No. 60. | P. Jaco: | Ring with coat of arms of the King | No. 97. | P. Con: | Big knife with crystal handle set with turquoises | 100 thalers Silverware (122 items) No. 4. | | Silver bowl made in Augsburg with a cover with phoenix | weight 36 grzywnas No. 8. | | Three storey fountain with gilded elements made in Augsburg | weight 108 grzywnas No. 9. | | Silver pyramid with 11 baskets made in Augsburg | weight 45 grzywnas No. 12. | | Large gilded basin with a jug with eagle | weight 147 grzywnas No. 13. | | Smooth jug with gilded parts with double headed eagle [imperial or Russian?] | weight 48 grzywnas No. 19. | | Round gilded basin with a jug with lion and Topór coat of arms | weight 44 grzywnas No. 21. | | Trimmed basin with the Story of Belisarius made in Augsburg | weight 23 grzywnas No. 22. | | Similar basin with the Story of Mordecai | weight 18 grzywnas No. 23. | | Trimmed tray with the Story of Bacchus made in Augsburg | weight 14 grzywnas No. 24. | | Round tray with a person pointing finger made in Augsburg | weight 11 grzywnas No. 25. | | Tray with Neptune made in Augsburg | weight 9 grzywnas No. 26. | | Gilded tray with a boar | weight 7 grzywnas No. 27. | | Silver tray with Magi | weight 12 grzywnas No. 28. | | Silver tray with handles with Convivium Deorum | weight 14 grzywnas No. 30. | | Silver tray with gilded handles with a shepherdess with a dog | weight 7 grzywnas No. 31. | | Basket with gilded handles, Justice and Abundance| weight 11 grzywnas No. 32. | | Basket with gilded handles with three goddess | weight 14 grzywnas No. 33. | | Basket with gilded handles with Quatuor Anni tempora | weight 12 grzywnas No. 42. | | Serving silver tray with King’s coat of arms made in Paris | weight 4 grzywnas No. 44. | | Gilded set for one person with King’s coat of arms made in Paris | weight 11 grzywnas No. 52. | | Two gilded trays engraved with fruits and butterfly made in Augsburg | weight 9 grzywnas No. 79. | | Pair of vases with large handles with bases with King’s coat of arms made in Paris| weight 536 grzywnas No. 81. | | Silver screen with angels and a crown made in Augsburg | weight 242 grzywnas No. 88. | | Twelve gilded plates with King’s coat of arms| weight 33 grzywnas No. 92. | | 22 smooth gilded plates with coat of arms and letters A.R. | weight 51 grzywnas Goldsmithery (538 items) No. 1. | P.Al:| Gold bowl in the shape of a shell presented by Elector of Brandenburg with his coat of arms | weight 894 red zlotys No. 2. | P.Iacobus:| Smaller gold bowl with Chinese people and flowers| weight 192 red zlotys No. 6. | P.Con:| Smooth gold cup on three knobs with coat of arms of Elector of Brandenburg and ducal cap| weight 480 red zlotys No. 7. | Queen:| Large jasper bowl with gold bottom and gold handles, gold cover with 4 crystals and a crane holding a sapphire| weight 600 red zlotys No. 8. | P.Iacobus:| Jasper bowl in gold frame set with rubies with eagle’s head | weight 150 red zlotys No. 9. | P.Al:| Jasper chalice with a high bottom and a silver frame set with rubies, cover with a lily, set with diamonds and emeralds| weight 250 red zlotys No. 17. | | Black agate casket in gold frame with four columns, set with crystal, and Passion of Christ| weight 500 red zlotys No. 26. |P.Con.| Engraved crystal bowl with high bottom with crystal eagle | No. 42. |P.Al.| Chinese inkwell in the shape of a lectern with a gold lock set with diamonds | No. 49. |P.Al.| Nautilus cup in the shape of a ship with a mast on a dolphin | No. 64. || Gilded silver figurine of Arion among dolphins | No. 70. |P.Al.| Turkish porcelain censer in silver frame set with rubies and other precious stones| No. 78. |Princess| Gilded silver casket set lavishly with stones with an eagle at the top| No. 80. |P.Iacobus| Nautilus cup in silver frame with a Triton | No. 81. |P.Con:| Nautilus cup in silver frame with a gilded swan | No. 82. |P.Iacobus| Box in the shape of a pyramid with 7 green filigree bottles | No. 84. |P.Al.| Coral bush on a silver pedestal with silver Andromeda | No. 85. |P.Con.| Green jasper bowl in gold frame, cover with Diana | 40 No. 87. |P.Al.| Pure gold saltcellar with a cover with Cleopatra and a pearl | 115 No. 88. |P.Con.| Heart-shaped bowl in gold frame | No. 92. |P.Con.| Our Lady made in coral on a gilded silver pedestal | No. 97. |P.Con.| Filigree palace with a garden | No. 98. |P.Iacobus.| New bone inlaid checkers with amber pawns in walnut box| No. 100. || Mathematical box covered with black leather adorned with silver with King’s arms, two mathematic instruments inside in smaller boxes | No. 112. |P. Iacobus.| Silver chimney screen with green glass| No. 113. |P. Al.| A pair of stone pictures with flowers made in Florence, one with a frame the other without | No. 120. |P. Al.| Silver altar with Immaculate Conception in a box| P.1 No. 129. |P. Iac.| Pure gold candlestick of 93 red zloty weight| P.1 No. 130. |P. Con.| Gilded altar with Nativity of Christ in a box| P.1 No. 131. |P. Al.| Another altar with Resurrection of Christ | Walled treasury in the southern tower of the Wilanów Palace P.2 No. 123. |P. Iac.| Ebony table set with silver with an instrument inside and four s-shaped elements on each side in lower part | P.2 No. 125. |P. Iacobus.| Gilded clock with a sun index with perpendicular | P.2 No. 126. |P. Constantin| Gilded clock with small turned posts and a perspective (a telescope?)| P.2 No. 128. |P. Iacobus| A clock with a siren on a black pedestal with six knobs, turret at the top with a figure | P.2 No. 130. |P. Iacobus| Inkwell set with tortoiseshell and mother of pearl in silver frame | No. 137. |P. Con. | Filigree silver tray set with precious stones with two cupids in the center | No. 144. |P. Iacobus. | Jasper chalice set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds 175 silver worth | 175 No. 146. |P. Con. | Small Chinese tray with trimmed borders, lacquered in black with gold with a bowl adorned similarly with a gold stamp inside set with emeralds, accompanied with three Chinese gods made in the same way with nodding heads | No. 147. | | Picture on canvas with Our Lady with Saint Francis covered with metal riza adorned with stones, diamonds and pearls in corners, this picture hung always in the bedroom of his Highness in Wilanów| No. 148. | | Large ebony cabinet framed in gold with enameled elements, diamonds and precious stones, mirrors in the drawers| No. 160. | P. Iacobus. | Delftware vase with ships and King’s monogram| Queen’s Antechamber No. 161. | | Two large walnut wardrobes set with silver trimmed pieces filled with delftware and porcelain| No. 162. | P.Const| Crystal clock in gilded silver frame| No. 163. | P. Iacobus. | Velvet wallpapers with crimson flowers on yellow background | Al fresco painted cabinet No. 170. | | Red tortoiseshell cabinet on six legs | Queen’s Bedroom No. 171. | | Large jasper cabinet with drawers adorned with pietra dura and silver, in inner part 9 stone pictures and 18 metals | No. 172. | | Mirror on high pedestal with a clock adorned with stones and silver festoons | No. 176. | | Overbed canopy in Chinese style with gold, fringed with gold and silk | Queen’s Study No. 189. |P. Al. | Small ebony table set with silver on crystal legs | No. 193. |P. Al. | Amber cross in a box | King’s Antechamber No. 203. | | Roman cabinet with drawers with Story of Moses behind glass, in this cabinet a clock with a lamp and gilded Curtius on horseback at the top | No. 204. | | Large cabinet made in Florence adorned with tortoiseshell and other stones, with a clock at the top | No. 205. | | Large chair covered with gold fabric with crimson lining with silk fringe with gold and gilded silver knobs| No. 206. |P. Constanti | Velvet wallpapers with crimson crowns and flowers on golden background | King’s Bedroom No. 208. | | Pietra dura table with jasper settings with figures on gilded wooden legs | No. 210. | | Carved gilded table made in France with arms of the King and Queen covered with profuse Persian fabric at the top | No. 214. | | Gilded wooden bed carved with shell forms with two cupids standing on turtles on the head side and two dolphins in leg side| Dutch Study No. 224. | | Black table with flowers and a parrot in the center on walnut legs| No. 226. |P.Con | Large amber cross on high pedestal in a box | No. 229. | | Calambuco wood Three Kings in a shed adorned with rubies and diamonds | No. 234. |P.Con: | Chinese satin dressing gown adorned with painted flowers with orange cotton linen | No. 235. |P.Ale: | White satin dressing gown embroidered with flowers and double-headed eagle in the center, scarlet satin linen | No. 243. |P.Alexander: | A pair of velvet Persian pillows with pyramid pattern on gold background and with orange satin linen | No. 247. |P.Iacobus. | Turkish tortoiseshell casket set with mother of pearl | King’s Chinese Study No. 248. |P. Alexander. | Chinese satin wall hangings with sewn flowers, birds and figures | No. 250. || Wooden carved and gilded bed made in France with Queen’s monogram | No. 255. || Chinese gilded table with a drawer on four legs with a Chinese cabinet with drawers atop containing Chinese boxes, gods, pictures, flowers set in brass | No. 256. ||Gilded wooden statue of a Chinese god | No. 258. | P.Ale. |Chinese casket set with mother of pearl in brass frame | King’s dressing room No. 263. | P.Al: | Ivory casket set with jasper | No. 271. | P.Iacobus | Square pillow with octagonal crimson flowers on silver and gold background | No. 275. | | Lying deer with coral antlers | No. 276. | | Round table with King’s monogram | No. 277. | P. Alex.| Old elongated Chinese chest with rounded cover, set with mother of pearl | No. 280. | | Large shell of a sea turtle in form of a shield | ------- No. 281. |P. Con. | Smooth silver table on a pedestal with checkers inside | No. 282. |P. Con. | Small ebony angular table on eight legs, set with silver | No. 290. | | Filigree altar set with precious stones with two pictures, Passion of Christ in upper part and Our Lady of Sorrows in lower part| No. 291. | To Żółkiew| Large gilded can set with precious stones in a box with white Holy Ghost atop and gilded rays, it was made for the Church in Żółkiew | No. 295. | given to the Princess| Profuse Persian wall hangings with flowers, birds and letters Ioannes Rex | No. 312. | P. Alexander. | Two small perfume pillows to the great canopy, one in pearl color satin, sewn with gold and silver thread with a marzipan colored lace, the other one painted with figures| No. 321. | | Round Turkish leather table embroidered with gold and silver | No. 330. | | Half-silk wall hanging with flames hung before the bathroom, 7 pieces | No. 331. | | Velvet red wall hangings with embroidered female figures, 12 large and small pieces | No. 332. | | Velvet green tapestries with emperors, 10 large and small pieces | No. 333. | | Canopy from the above set, crimson velvet with coat of arms of ancestors of His Highness | No. 334. |to the Queen | Tapestry set sewn with gold with battles, received from his highness Elector of Bavaria, 8 pieces | No. 373. |P. Const. | Canopy made from a rich fabric, with silver flowers on a gold background, with a marzipan colored fringe and one silk rope | No. 374. || Crimson canopy embroidered in floral motives in gold thread, green silk fringe with gold thread | No. 377. |P. Alexander| Two crimson velvet portieres with coat of arms of the King with pearl colored satin linen | No. 381. |One to P. Iacob the other to P. Alex.| Two rich curtains with satin blue center embroidered with gold thread with stars, moon fazes, with green cotton linen | No. 407. |P. Con:| Persian small crimson kilim in gold and silver striations with blue cotton linen| No. 419. || Two velvet crimson chairs with patterns and gilded knobs, fringe and gallon in gold| No. 421. || Folded velvet crimson chairs in a gilded silver frame | No. 437. || Hanging crystal candlestick in red case | No. 444. || A pair of paintings with palaces and people in turbans before them in gilded carved frames | No. 446. |P. Alexander | A pair of paintings on silver plates with Alexander on horseback and His Majesty on the other in black ebony frames | No. 447. |P. Alexander| Veronica with the veil behind the glass in silver covered frame | No. 454. |P. Iacob | Gilded wooden inkwell painted with birds | No. 455. |P. Con: | Small ivory square casket with brass gilded slats in corners with pieces of crystal on sides and cover | No. 458. |P. Al: | Mother of pearl inkwell with a mirror inside under the cover | No. 471. |P. Al: | Wooden Chinese tray with a pitcher set with mother of pearl | No. 487. |P. Al: | Brass table clock in form of a tower on black pedestal | No. 489. |P. Iac. | Bronze equestrian figure of Gustavus Adolphus | No. 492. || Jasper green rosaries, and a moose horn with relics of different saints with silver filigree cross | Paintings (316 items) No. 1. || Painting with sea ducks with ducklings and a hoopoe in black frame |20 No. 4. || Painting with a dragon with a snake and a hoopoe on a tree in black frame |20 No. 5. || Large painting with Mercury at the table with other gods in carved gilded frame | Queen’s Antechamber No. 8. || Dutch painting with a hovel by the sea and land with travelers in black frame |110 No. 10. || Painting with a fire of Amsterdam Town Hall in black frame |110 No. 11. || Pair of paintings with different fruit and sea cancer (crabs?) without frame |12 Queen’s Bedroom No. 13. || Painting of a lady in white dress with a gentleman playing lute in black frame |100 No. 15. || Painting of a lady in scarlet dress playing clavichord with a gentleman in black frame |100 No. 16. || Passion of Christ in ivory on violet velvet with a gold gallon |150 Queen’s Antechamber No. 19. || Image of Saint Francis on marble in form of an altar triptych in frame adorned with silver |6 No. 20. || Image of Deposition of Christ in ivory in black frame |70 No. 22. || Image of Nativity of Christ in ivory in black frame |100 No. 23. || Image of Nativity of Christ in marble in black frame |15 No. 24. || Pair of oval glassed images with Christ the Savior and Mary in carved gilded frame |60 No. 26. || Painting with the Story of Herod in carved gilded frame |30 No. 27. || Pair of glassed images with goddesses and Vulcan on the other in carved gilded frame |60 No. 29. || Pair of images with a Swiss man with halberd and a Dutch woman in gilded frame | Queen’s Study No. 31. || Painting of Mary sitting under the tree with Saint Joseph in gilded frame | No. 33. || Pair of glassed images with the Story of Actaeon in tortoiseshell frame set with brass and tin |40 No. 34. || Painting of Assumption of Mary by Bacici in carved gilded frame |100 No. 35. || Painting of Jupiter by Mr Jerzy (Jerzy Siemiginowski-Eleuter) in carved gilded frame |60 No. 37. || Glassed portrait of Queen of France (Anne of Austria) in gilded frame |10 No. 39. || Painting of Abraham and Hagar in gilded frame |130 No. 42. || Painting of Mary on white satin in plant paint in gilded frame |13 No. 44. || Painting of Mary Magdalene lying under the tree on tin plate in gilded frame |25 No. 45. || Painting of Mary looking upwards with Jesus in gilded carved frame |50 No. 46. || Painting of a Capuchin monk with a book, reading, in gilded frame |15 No. 47. || Painting of an old Capuchin monk with a skull contemplating Passion of Christ in gilded frame |10 No. 49. |P.Al:| Miniature glassed painting of decapitation of Saint Margaret in filigree frame set with precious stones | No. 50. |P.Al:| Miniature glassed painting of Saint John with a lamb in filigree frame set with enamel and precious stones | No. 53. || Painting of Saint John pointing upwards in filigree frame set with precious stones | King’s Antechamber No. 69. || Painting of Christ with the Pharisees by Raphael in gilded frame |150 King’s Bedroom No. 74. || Portrait of Portuguese rabbi by Rembrandt in black frame |150 No. 75. || Painting of the same dimensions of a Jewish Girl in a beret in black frame |190 No. 76. || Painting of an old Spanish woman in gilded carved frame |30 No. 78. || Bas-relief presented by His Holiness Pope Ottoboni (Alexander VIII) with Saint Ignatius and his companions in smooth metal gilded frame, on lapis and amethyst background, hung on a silk rope with silver knobs |300 No. 79. || Painting of Passion of Christ on tin plate in pietra dura frame |60 No. 81. || Painting of Saint Anthony resurrecting a child on tin plate in carved frame with gilded copper elements |130 No. 82. || Natural marble image with battle of Amazons in brass frame with marble medallions and silver cherubs |45 No. 83. || Painting of Moses leaving Egypt with his people in bone inlaid frame |300 No. 84. || Painting of Procession Saint Gregory in Rome with a round top in metal gilded frame |130 No. 86. || Pietra dura image with Annunciation, the head of an angel damaged in gilded metal frame |50 No. 87. || Bas-relief pietra dura image with fruit and flowers in a lapis vase in black frame |50 King’s Dutch Study No. 88. || Pair of Dutch paintings with peacocks, turkeys and hen with chickens on one of them and red kite eating a pigeon, hens and hen with chickens on the other one, both in gilded frame| No. 89. || Painting with flowers in a glass bowl in carved gilded frame with King’s monogram|80 No. 92. || Painting with Three Kings by Rembrandt in black frame|100 No. 93. || Painting with Abraham and Hagar by Rembrandt in black frame|100 No. 97. || Painting of an old lady reading a book in octagonal black frame|50 No. 103. || 12 images of Chinese Emperors in round black frames |12 No. 104. || Image of man sitting behind bars with a lady in white dress visiting him in black frame |10 No. 105. || Bas-relief wax image of Veraicon (or Saint Veronica) in oval carved and gilded frame | No. 107. || Ivory image of Rape of Proserpine in black frame | 100 No. 108. || Pair of Chinese images on white satin with gods sitting on storks in a simple wooden frame at the bottom| 8 King’s Chinese Study No. 113. || Painting of Christ in the Garden by Lavinia Fontana (?) in gilded carved frame| 30 No. 116. || Painting of Christ with Samaritan woman on tin plate in black frame with gilded slat| 60 No. 120. || Painting of Sybil praying to Apollo in gilded frame| 60 No. 122. || Portrait of Helena (Henrietta?), Queen of England in gilded frame| 40 No. 123. || Painting of Neptun and other gods on tin plate in gilded frame| 18 No. 126. || Pair of Chinese images on white satin with a greyhound on one of them and a tiger on the other | 18 No. 127. || Painting with angels holding cross in clouds in gilded frame | 20 No. 128. || Painting of Christ in the Garden on black marble by Anthony van Dyck in gilded frame | 45 No. 129. || 14 miniature images of Chinese Emperors in black round frames | 24 King’s Dressing Room No. 135. || Dutch painting of a sick lady with a doctor checking the urine and child playing with a dog in leather covered silver plated frame with a gilded slate | 70 No. 136. || Painting of a lady playing clavichord and a servant in third room sweeping in leather covered silver plated frame with a gilded slate | 30 No. 139. || Painting of a lady playing viola da gamba with a female servant playing lute in black frame| 10 No. 140. || Painting with ladies drinking coffee in leather covered gilded frame | 50 No. 141. || Painting with marble pitcher and fruit in leather covered gilded frame | 10 No. 145. || Marble image of a white goddess turned into a tree (Daphne?) in octagonal black frame | 30 Library No. 148. || 4 paintings representing four continents in separate frames containing 17 small pictures painted on tin plate | Upper Treasury with paintings from the Lower Gallery and Library No. 151. || Dutch landscape painting with people resting under the tree in black frame | 40 No. 152. || Painting of a butler entering the room before a lady in white dress in black frame | 10 No. 156. || Painting of a lady in gold dress playing lute, a girl giving her a letter in black frame | 35 No. 157. || Painting of a lady in white dress with a gentleman putting his leg on her in simple white frame | 35 No. 160. || Painting with a gilded cup, herring on a plate, bread and oysters in black frame | 50 No. 161. || Painting of a Knight of Malta returning from the war, and the other one dancing with a lady in black frame| 15 No. 163. || Pair of paintings with herrings, garlic, onion, white bread and a glass of wine in simple white frame| 80 No. 167. || Painting of three people standing at the sea shore, two sitting and one old man pointing to the sea in black frame | 30 No. 169. || Paintings of old men on wood panel, one of them holding a herring and money without frame | No. 171. || Straw image with a landscape without frame | No. 176. || Pair of round paintings on marble with Actaeon and sirens on dolphins in the other one in grey octagonal frames | 30 No. 180. || Painting with a Dutch dwelling with a female cook pouring milk, in gilded copper frame (copy of Vermeer’s Milkmaid?) | 10 No. 187. || Ivory image with Caritas on black velvet in oval carved and gilded frame | 40 No. 188. || Pair of paintings with a girl at the window with a candle and an old lady with a pitcher watering plants in a pot in the other one, both in gilded carved frames | 54 No. 190. || Picture of Mary Magdalene embroidered in silk in gilded frame | No. 191. || Pair of pictures in wax on jasper with Andromeda and Phaethon on the other in silver frame | No. 192. || Glassed picture with a perspective in white wax with two sitting people in black wax in black frame |10 No. 197. || Small painting on tin plate with banquet of King Ahasuerus in black frame |45 No. 198. || Small painting on tin plate with a soldier killing a queen and a city in flames in black frame |19 No. 199. || Small painting with Sodoma in flames and two angels above throwing flames in smooth gilded frame|20 No. 201. || Painting with a Franciscan monk listening to a confession in gilded frame |13 No. 202. || Pair of paintings with a Dutch man killing lice and the other one scratching in his bosom, both in large black frames |20 No. 204. || Painting on wood with Head of Saint John in black frame with gilded elements with turquoise and silver gilded slate |15 No. 207. || Painting on tin plate with different travelers under a rock and a woman with a child on her arms in black frame | No. 208. || Pietra dura picture with a parrot on a cherry wood in black frame |10 No. 210. || Large painting with an old man by Rembrandt in gilded frame and rounded top |80 No. 214. || Painting with a glassed cupboard with different papers in fir white frame |15 No. 215. || Painting on wood with Venus holding her leg and Cupid, under the tree without a frame |6 No. 221. || Painting of Mary Magdalene with an angel and a skull in gilded frame |60 No. 225. || Pair of new paintings with a Lot standing by a pitcher and a banker counting gold coins on the other, both without frames |16 No. 229. || Painting of Nativity of Christ on black marble in gilded carved frame |15 No. 230. || Ivory picture with a lion hunt on black velvet in black frame |45 No. 230. || Dutch painting with cattle, shepherd on horseback and the other one holding a goat by the horns in black frame |50 No. 238. || Painting with fruit in white porcelain on a small table covered with a red fabric in black frame |4 No. 241. || Painting with a shepherdess on a grey donkey, hunter on horseback with a bird and dogs before her and two traveling Capuchin monks in black frame |90 Paintings in Marywil No. 252. || Large landscape painting with ruins and people on mules in gilded frame |20 No. 253. || Large painting with a lute and different mathematical instruments, clock and two silver vases in gilded frame |10 No. 259. || Painting with a battle of Turks and Hungarians, with a gentleman on horseback with a sword and a cross hanging on his chest in gilded frame |12 No. 260. || Painting of the same dimensions on canvas with a battle of Turks under a besieged castle and Croats coming with the rescue in gilded frame |12 No. 261. || Elongated painting (horizontal?) with a farrier nailing on a white horse before a smithy and soldiers returning to the camp in carved gilded frame |10 No. 262. || Elongated painting (horizontal?) with a farrier nailing on a horse before a smithy with more horses while a woman with a child is sitting on the ground in black frame |40 No. 274. || Painting with gypsies by the fire and soldiers playing cards under the tree in black frame with gilded slat |2 No. 276. || Painting with wandering gypsies walking and on wagons, female gypsies with children, kitchen pots and other utensils beside them in black frame |2 No. 277. || Painting in grisaille with Charon and sitting soldiers in black frame |3 No. 278. || Pair of old style paintings with a King and a Queen in black frame |4 No. 280. || Painting on oak panel with a female cook with a pheasant in black frame |8 No. 281. || Large painting with Salvator Mundi |20 No. 286. || Portrait of a man in red costume lined with sable and yellow żupan in black frame |20 No. 287. || Portrait of Queen Eleanor in white dress in a simple frame |20 No. 288. || Portrait of Queen of Sweden in old style costume with a ruff collar in black frame |4 No. 291. || Painting with a painter looking on engravings with a palette and brushes beside him in black frame |8 No. 292. || Painting with a lady sitting by the table with a lute beside her in elongated black frame|5 No. 293. || Painting of half nude Mary Magdalene kneeling before the cross with her hands in prayer in black frame|10 No. 296. || Portrait of Queen of Scotland (Mary Stuart?) on wood in black frame|2 No. 299. || Landscape painting with Dutch cattle and a shepherd leaning on an ox in black frame with double gilded slat|3 No. 300. || Painting with a parrot and a sea cat (northern fur seal?) and chamamilla creature on the tree beside, in black frame with double gilded slat |20 Items in a chest in the Warsaw Treasury No. 569. |P.Alex.| Tiger leather lined with gold satin | No. 570. |P.Iacobus.| Tiger skin lined with blue cotton | No. 571. |P.Const.| Smaller tiger skin lined with orange kindyak | No. 572. |P.Const.| Large tiger skin, not lined | No. 573. |P.Iacob.| Small tiger skin, not lined | No. 574. |P.Alex.| Leopard skin lined with different stripes of velvet with silver and gold twines between, silver and gold crowns in corners, buttons in one end, lined with yellow cotton fabric | No. 575. |P.Constanti.| Small leopard skin lined with red büründzuk (silk with metal thread fabric from Turkey), paws and tail lined with ocher velvet| No. 576. |P.Alexander.| Leopard skin lined with different stripes of velvet with silver and gold twine, with crowns embroidered with gold in each corner, buttons in one end, lined with blue cotton fabric | No. 577. || Skin of a black wolf given to voivode (duke) of Courland.
See also: Table centerpiece with Hercules
See more pictures of Sobieski treasures on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub
The set was commissioned by the Empress Dowager Eleonor Gonzaga (1630-1686) in about 1668. The monstrance preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (inv. no. GS D 25), while candlesticks, together with the smaller monstrance were offered by the Empress to the Jasna Góra Monastery in 1670 on the occasion of the wedding of her daughter, the Archduchess Eleanor Maria Josefa of Austria with King Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki.
Silver and crystal monstrance set with precious stones by Hans Jakob Mair, ca. 1668, Jasna Góra Treasury.
Silver candlestick set with precious stones by Hans Jakob Mair, ca. 1668, Jasna Góra Treasury.
Who is the mysterious girl dressed in contemporary, although a bit out of fashion at the time of creation, Spanish dress? The portrait is a so-called pendant, one of two paintings hung together with similar or respective topic. In portraiture usually depicting couples, man and wife, mother and daughter, father and son, brother and sister, in opposite poses. Basing on dimensions (134 x 98 cm), style, topic and costume similarity, the portrait of unknown Princess is undoubtedly a pendant to portrait of Prince Sigismund Casimir Vasa preserved in the Austria’s Ambras Castle collection (division of Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, inventory number 8198) and attributed to Dutch painter at the Polish court in Warsaw, Peter Danckerts de Rij. Young prince, about 4 years old, was depicted in a fancy polish costume – green żupan, standing on a loggia (arcaded terrace) of Ladislaus IV’s favourite residence in Warsaw facing Vistula River. Sigismund Casimir was the only son of the King by his first wife Archduchess Cecilia Renata of Austria. The portrait is recorded in the Ambras Castle inventories as far as the year of 1663, hence it could be a gift of the King of Poland to his Austrian cousins. The reason why the portrait of Polish princess does not preserved in the same location might be that she was illegitimate daughter of the King, who could not be introduced to the imperial family. It might have been in the collection of the Polish Vasas till 1673, when John II Casimir’s belongings were put on sale in Paris. Ladislaus’ Queen became pregnant three times during her marriage. Apart from Sigismund Casimir (1 April 1640), she gave birth to a daughter Maria Anna Isabella on 8 January 1642, who died one month later and on 23 March 1644 Cecilia Renata gave birth her third child, a stillborn daughter. She died next day as a consequence of an infection. None of king’s siblings had a child in 1640s, consequently the portrait could not depict a living, legitimate member of the Royal family.
The only confirmed illegitimate child of the King, Władysław Konstanty (Ladislaus Constantine), was born around 1635. Although the male children were frequently depicted in long dresses in baroque era, he was approximately 10 years old at the time when the portrait was executed, hence too old to wear such costume. The features of the sitter are also more feminine and typical for young girls of that time. It is possible then, what was suggested several times, that Ladislaus had a daughter by his mistress Jadwiga Łuszkowska born in about 1640. The portrait can be considered as unprecedented depiction of illegitimate child together with "prince of the blood" in Habsburg circle, and it is a testimony of great affection of the King to his children. Due to great similarity of contemporary Polish and Hungarian costumes, it is also highly probable that pictures represent not Sigismund Casimir Vasa and his alleged sister but eldest son of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife Maria Anna of Spain - Ferdinand (1633-1654), made king of Bohemia in 1646 and king of Hungary and Croatia in 1647 and his sister Mariana of Austria (1634-1696), future queen of Spain, who were frequently depicted together at that time. The Emperor's son was depicted with similar Hungarian hat and similar dog in 1634 at the age of 1 year.
(1) Portrait of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (1633-1654) in Hungarian costume by Anonymous, 1630s, Ambras Castle in Innsbruck,
(2) Portrait of Archduchess Mariana of Austria (1634-1696) in Spanish costume by Anonymous, 1630s, Museu Sa Bassa Blanca, (3-4) Portrait of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his sister Mariana of Austria by Anonymous, 1630s, Bavarian State Painting Collections, (5-6) Portrait of a boy and a girl, most probably Ferdinand of Austria and his sister Mariana of Austria by Frans Luyckx, 1630s, Museo Nacional del Prado, (7) Detail of portrait of Maria Anna of Spain and her son Ferdinand by Anonymous, 1634, Kunsthistorisches Museum, (8) Portrait of Pál and Orsolya Esterházy by Anonymous, 1652, Forchtenstein Castle.
See more pictures of Polish noble costume on Pinterest - Artinpl and Artinplhub
|
Artinpl is individual, educational project to share knowledge about works of art nowadays and in the past in Poland.
If you like this project, please support it with any amount so it could develop. © Marcin Latka Categories
All
Archives
May 2022
|