Artwork

Portrait of Jan Jacek Tarnowski (1729–1808), Starost of Kahorlice and Byszów

Portrait of Jan Jacek Tarnowski (1729–1808), Starost of Kahorlice and Byszów is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Augustyn Mirys. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków. Created circa 1750, this oil portrait presents Jan Jacek Tarnowski, a regional official in the Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1750, this oil portrait presents Jan Jacek Tarnowski, a regional official in the Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth. The work belongs to the National Museum in Kraków and exemplifies the decorative elegance typical of mid‑eighteenth‑century aristocratic portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Jan Jacek Tarnowski (1729–1808), held the offices of starost for the districts of Kahorlice and Byszów. He is shown in formal attire, his posture and composed expression conveying authority and genteel confidence, while the subtle smile hints at personal refinement.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a restrained rococo palette with a dark, muted backdrop that emphasizes the luminous gray coat. Gold embroidery on the sleeves and lapels catches reflected light, and the artist uses chiaroscuro to model the figure’s features, creating a three‑dimensional presence within the flat space.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted by Augustyn Mirys, a Polish artist of Scottish‑French descent who trained in Rome before settling in the Commonwealth in the 1730s. Mirys served several noble families and entered the household of Jan Klemens Branicki in the early 1750s, during which time he likely received this commission.

Context

Mirys’s work reflects the cross‑cultural influences of his Roman education and the local tastes of Polish aristocracy, merging Italianate softness with the decorative flair favored by the Commonwealth’s elite. The piece illustrates how provincial officials adopted continental artistic trends to assert their status within the social hierarchy.