Artwork

Portrait of Stanisław August Poniatowski in the uniform of the head of the Corps of Cadets

Portrait of Stanisław August Poniatowski in the uniform of the head of the Corps of Cadets is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Marcello Bacciarelli. It dates from 1781 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. This oil painting, created around 1781, depicts Stanisław August Poniatowski in the uniform of the head of the Corps of Cadets.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting, created around 1781, depicts Stanisław August Poniatowski in the uniform of the head of the Corps of Cadets. It is a work by Marcello Bacciarelli, an Italian artist active in Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is shown wearing a dark green military jacket with gold trim and a powdered wig, conveying a sense of dignity and authority. The plain black background emphasizes his face and uniform decorations.

Technique & Style

The painting exemplifies Neoclassicism, characterized by a focus on realism and classical ideals. Bacciarelli's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, with the gold embroidery on the jacket appearing almost three-dimensional.

History & Provenance

The painting is now held in the National Museum in Warsaw, having been created during Bacciarelli's time working in Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Artist & collection

Artist

Marcello Bacciarelli

Marcello Bacciarelli (Italian pronunciation: ; 16 February 1731 – 5 January 1818) was an Italian-born painter of the late-baroque and Neoclassic periods active in Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.