Artwork

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778)

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778), by Louis de Silvestre, oil, 1725
Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778), by Louis de Silvestre, oil, 1725

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Louis de Silvestre. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722-1778) is an oil on canvas painting by the French artist Louis de Silvestre.

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722-1778) is an oil on canvas painting by the French artist Louis de Silvestre. The full-length portrait depicts its titled subject and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. As an example of eighteenth-century aristocratic portraiture, the work combines formal court representation with elements of refined elegance, documenting both the sitter's social standing and the artist's role in central European patronage.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska, also known as Ludwika Amalia Rutowska, who lived from 1722 to 1778. The iconography centers on themes of nobility and beauty. She is shown standing, holding a small cluster of flowers near a stone pedestal bearing additional blooms, while her left hand holds a rose at her waist. The flowers, along with her jeweled hair ornament and pearl earrings, serve as conventional symbols of aristocratic grace, youth, and the cultivated refinement associated with her station.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint on canvas, the composition is vertical and centers the standing figure against a dark, muted background that suggests an indistinct garden setting with dark foliage and a low horizon line. Silvestre employed a palette of deep browns, golds, blues, and creamy flesh tones. Light falls evenly on the sitter's face and rich fabrics, creating soft shadows that model the voluminous drapery. The brushwork is smooth and refined in the rendering of the face and hands, shifting to broader, more textured handling in the costume and background. The surface shows some age cracks and minor abrasions along the edges.

History & Provenance

The painting is currently housed in the National Museum in Warsaw, where it forms part of the institution's collection of works by Louis de Silvestre. The precise details of the commission and the complete chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not documented in the available sources. It remains an important holding within the museum's extensive collection of Silvestre's paintings.

Portret van een vrouw
Portret van een vrouw, Unknown

Artist & collection

Portrait of Louis de Silvestre

Artist

Louis de Silvestre

Louis de Silvestre (23 June 1675 – 11 April 1760), also known as Louis de Silvestre the Younger, was a French portrait and history painter.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778)?

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778) was painted by Louis de Silvestre in 1725.

Where can I see Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778)?

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778) is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778)?

Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778) is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778)?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Ludwika Amalia Lubomirska (1722–1778) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.