Princess Marshal Izabella Lubomirska

Princess Marshal Izabella Lubomirska, née Czartoryska, was portrayed in a half-length pose, slightly tilted to the left, looking directly at the viewer. Her hairstyle is typical of the era, adorned with an ostrich feather egret (a jewelled hair ornament made of gold and gemstones, often featuring a feather) and a lace veil. She is dressed in a dark golden silk gown with a deep neckline, with visible lace and emerald bows. Around her neck is a decorative lace band called "binda" (a lace ornament worn around the neck with a low-cut dress) with a flower made of blue stones. On her left shoulder is a dark sapphire velvet cloak lined with ermine. The lavish, ceremonial attire with the princely attribute (ermine) clearly emphasises the exceptionally high status of the sitter. The painting is framed in a gold Rococo frame.

This work is regarded as the most elegant portrait of the wife of the Grand Marshal. The artist's skill is evident in the depiction of the refined elegance of the outfit, its colour palette, the soft modelling of the body, and the finely rendered details.

An inscription on the support reads: "Izabella Princess of the House of Czartoryski/Princess Lubomirska/painted in the year 1758, at the age of 21/by Bacciarelli." Additionally, a 1928 inventory records: "Izabella, Princess of the House of Czartoryski, Lubomirska, half-figure portrait by Bacciarelli 20,000." However, recent research suggests that Marcello Bacciarelli was not the author of this portrait. It is now believed that Princess Marshal was likely portrayed by a French painter during her stay in Paris in 1790.*

The painting, part of the historical collection at Łańcut during the time of Roman Potocki, was displayed in the Rococo Salon on the first floor of the castle. In 1944, Roman Potocki's son, Alfred Antoni Potocki, fearing the advancing Soviet army, evacuated the portrait along with other valuable items from the Łańcut collection. The painting was initially taken to Vienna and later to the Principality of Liechtenstein. In the 1990s, it was purchased from the Espirito Santo family by The Piniński Foundation. In 2016, the portrait of the Princess appeared in Łańcut at the exhibition "Portraits and Images of Princess Marshal," and in 2018, it was repurchased by the Castle Museum in Łańcut from The Piniński Foundation. It was returned to its original place in the Rococo Salon of the Princess Marshal, where it can be admired during castle tours.

Michał Rajchert

References:

* consultation: A. Cholewianka-Kruszyńska

A. Cholewianka-Kruszyńska, "Portraits and Images of Princess Marshal," Łańcut 2016, p. 57. B. Majewska-Maszkowska, "Art Patronage of Izabella Lubomirska née Czartoryska 1736-1816," Wrocław-Warsaw-Kraków, 1976, pp. 23, 464.