Artwork

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym, by Marcello Bacciarelli, oil, 1811
Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym, by Marcello Bacciarelli, oil, 1811

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Marcello Bacciarelli. It dates from 1811 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

It is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it is cataloged with the accession number MP 3126 MNW and the museum artwork ID 509032.

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736-1809), Marshal of the Seym is an oil on canvas painting by the Polish-Italian artist Marcello Bacciarelli. Created circa 1811, the artwork measures 75 cm in height and 62.5 cm in width. It is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it is cataloged with the accession number MP 3126 MNW and the museum artwork ID 509032. The painting is a posthumous portrait of a significant Polish nobleman and statesman, executed during the period of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Technique & Style

Bacciarelli executed the work in oil on canvas, employing a smooth and refined brushwork that carefully renders the textures of fabric, metal thread, and aging skin. The composition centers the figure from the chest up against a plain, dark gray-brown background, leaving ample empty space around him. The palette is restrained, relying on muted purples, golds, whites, and soft blues. Light falls from the left, illuminating the subject's face, white hair tied with a black ribbon, and the gold embroidery on his dark purple or gray coat. Shadows model his features and clothing, highlighting the white ruffled cravat and the light tan glove on his right hand, which holds a black tricorn hat. The overall handling demonstrates the transition from late-baroque to Neoclassic aesthetics.

History & Provenance

The portrait was created circa 1811, two years after the death of Stanisław Małachowski. The painting is part of the National Museum in Warsaw's collection under the accession number MP 3126 MNW. A photograph of the work was taken by Zbigniew Doliński on July 21, 2010, and the image was subsequently uploaded to Wikimedia Commons from the museum's digital archives on February 14, 2021. A small plaque is visible at the bottom of the gilt frame, likely indicating the subject or artist, though the full early ownership chain prior to its institutional accession remains undocumented in the available records.

Context

Marcello Bacciarelli was born in Rome and studied under Marco Benefial. In 1750, he moved to Dresden to work for King Augustus III of Poland, where he met Bernardo Bellotto. After Augustus's death, Bacciarelli went to Vienna and painted the imperial family before moving to Warsaw. King Stanisław II Augustus recruited him in 1768 to direct the Academy of Arts of Warsaw and the Royal Buildings and Estates. Bacciarelli painted a comprehensive series of portraits of Polish kings and culturally significant historical scenes for his patron. Following the partitions of Poland and Napoleon's rise, Bacciarelli moved to the Duchy of Warsaw, where he produced this late portrait before his death in 1818.

Portrait of Michał Krasiński (1712–1784), marshal general of Bar Confederation
Portrait of Michał Krasiński (1712–1784), marshal general of Bar Confederation, Antoni Brodowski

Artist & collection

Portrait of Marcello Bacciarelli

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.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym?

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym was painted by Marcello Bacciarelli in 1811.

Where can I see Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym?

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym?

Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym is associated with Neoclassicism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Stanisław Małachowski (1736–1809), Marshal of the Seym are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.