Artwork
Childhood portrait of Zygmunt Krasiński (1812–1859) in the Polish costume with his father’s sword
Childhood portrait of Zygmunt Krasiński (1812–1859) in the Polish costume with his father’s sword is an oil painting by Henri-François Riesener. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. Henri‑François Riesener painted this oil portrait in 1815, presenting a young Zygmunt Krasiński in traditional Polish dress.
About this work
Overview
Henri‑François Riesener painted this oil portrait in 1815, presenting a young Zygmunt Krasiński in traditional Polish dress. The boy, likely between five and ten years old, holds his father’s sword, a detail that underscores familial heritage. The work now forms part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is Zygmunt Krasiński, later a prominent Polish poet, shown in a red coat with a white lace collar and white breeches, attire associated with the Polish nobility. The sword, grasped with the hilt upward, functions as a visual emblem of aristocratic lineage and the martial values of his family.
Technique & Style
Riesener employs a clear chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated areas of the boy’s face and costume with darker background tones. The composition places the figure on a patterned rug before a cloudy sky and distant trees, creating depth and emphasizing the subject’s expression and the gleam of the sword.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after the Napoleonic Wars, the portrait entered the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Riesener, a French portraitist and miniaturist, was the son of celebrated cabinet‑maker Jean‑Henri Riesener and the father of Romantic painter Léon Riesener, linking the work to a notable artistic lineage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri-François Riesener (19 October 1767 – 7 February 1828) was a French portrait painter and miniaturist.
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