Portrait of Janusz Aleksander Sanguszko

The portrait of Janusz Aleksander Sanguszko in the collection of the Museum – Castle in Łańcut, shows the described person as a young man, frontally against a neutral background. The man's face is unnaturally oval with highly shaved hair. His face has well-defined eyebrows and a distinctive moustache. The portrayed person is wearing an armour of the Western European type. Sanguszko is girded with the blue ribbon of the Order of the White Eagle. A red velvet coat rests on the man's shoulders, on which, to the left, a part of the Great Star of the Order of the White Eagle can be seen.

To the left of the painting, there is an inscription in white paint: “Janusz X: Sanguszko. M:W:W:X: Litt. Kopja ze zbioru Wik: hr: Baworowskiego” (Copy from the collection of count W. Baworowski).

Janusz Aleksander Sanguszko, coat-of-arms Pogoń (born. 1712, died 1775.) held many honourable positions and offices, including major general of infantry of the Crown army, grand swordsman of Lithuania, court marshal of the Lithuanian Ordynat Ostrogski, starost of Cherkassy and Vinnytsia. He was born in Lubartów as a son of Paweł Karol Sanguszko and Marianna Lubomirska. Sanguszko was distinguished by his careful education received primarily at home. Between 1733 and 1735, he strived to get the Polish crown. On 11 August 1736, he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle in Dresden. Despite his family connections, he had court disputes with the Lubomirski family.

Sanguszko led a wild life and loved entertainment. He had lots of debts and financial problems. In 1764, he was the elector of Stanisław August Poniatowski (the last ruler of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) from Vitebsk Province. He owned a palace in Lublin, a townhouse and a manor house in Kraków. He died on 13 September 1775 in Dubno (a city in today’s Ukraine) and was buried in the local Bernardine church.

Portrait of Janusz Sanguszko, originally owned by Wiktor Baworowski. Wiktor Baworowski, own coat of arms (Baworowski) (born 1825, died 1894). A count, patron of science and the arts, bibliophile, poet and translator. Founder of the Bavorovsky Library in Lviv, member of the Krakow Scientific Society. He died on 3 December 1894 in Lviv.

Yulia Dushka