Who painted Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska?

Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska was painted by Per Krafft the Elder in 1767.

Where can I see Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska?

Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska is held by National Museum in Kraków.

What movement is Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska?

Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska

Per Krafft the Elder , 1767

Portrait of Teresa Poniatowska is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Per Krafft the Elder. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków. Created in 1767, this oil portrait presents Teresa Poniatowska seated in an upholstered red chair with gilded trim.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1767, this oil portrait presents Teresa Poniatowska seated in an upholstered red chair with gilded trim. The composition places her against a dark backdrop, emphasizing the figure’s illuminated presence. The work exemplifies the Rococo taste for elegance and refined detail, characteristic of mid‑18th‑century portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

Teresa Poniatowska is depicted in contemporary aristocratic attire, featuring a broad chest‑bow, a pearl‑adorned coiffure, and a feather accent. Her steady, direct gaze engages the viewer, suggesting a personal connection and the social confidence expected of a woman of her standing in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Technique & Style

The Swedish painter employed oil pigments to achieve a luminous surface and subtle modeling of flesh tones. Light falls across the fabric and chair, creating gentle contrasts that enhance the three‑dimensionality of the figure—a restrained use of chiaroscuro within the decorative Rococo idiom.

History & Provenance

Attributed to Per Krafft the Elder, a prominent Swedish portraitist active between 1724 and 1793, the painting entered the National Museum in Kraków, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent collection. Krafft’s career included mentoring his children, Per Krafft the Younger and Wilhelmina Krafft, both of whom pursued artistic paths.

Artist & collection

Artist

Per Krafft the Elder

Per Krafft the Elder (16 January 1724 – 7 November 1793) was a Swedish portraitist. He was the father of the artists Per Krafft the Younger and Wilhelmina Krafft.