Artwork
Portrait of Stanisław August Poniatowski with hourglass
Portrait of Stanisław August Poniatowski with hourglass is an oil painting by the Rococo painting 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, is a portrait of a seated figure in a dimly lit setting.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, created around 1781, is a portrait of a seated figure in a dimly lit setting. The work is attributed to Marcello Bacciarelli, an Italian-born artist active in Poland during the late 18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, identified as Stanisław August Poniatowski, is depicted in a contemplative pose, with an hourglass on the table before him. The somber atmosphere and the presence of the hourglass may symbolize the passing of time.
Technique & Style
The painting showcases the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasizes contrasts between light and dark. The strong lighting on the subject's face creates a sense of depth, while the surrounding environment fades into shadow, characteristic of the rococo style.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the National Museum in Warsaw's collection. It is a representative work from Bacciarelli's oeuvre, created during his time in Poland.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
Portrait of Archduchess Maria Christina (1742-1798), Duchess of Teschen
Portrait of Stanisław Poniatowski (1676–1762), king’s father
Portrait of Prince Józef Poniatowski
Self-portrait of Bacciarelli in a redingote
Portrait of Prince Józef Poniatowski
Portrait of Stanisław Poniatowski (1676–1762), king’s father
Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym
Portrait of Prince Józef Poniatowski as a Youth
