Stanisław August Poniatowski was elected king of Poland in 1764. Since he was not very popular among the gentry in the early years of his reign, he needed a showpiece portrait to emphasize his importance as the Polish monarch. He was also trying to cement the legitimacy of his rule in the public eye, as he actually ascended to the throne thanks to considerable support from Russia. The new monarch, looking for a talented portrait-maker for the task, chose Italian artist Marcello Bacciarelli, who had previously worked in Warsaw for a few years during the reign of Augustus III the Saxon, and produced numerous remarkable portraits of noblemen. 
The king is depicted in his official coronation attire: a coat lined with ermine fur and decorated with Polish eagles, a frock-coat and trousers. His hand rests on a staff that is a token of his military command and on the table beside him one can see the royal regalia. The King’s figure is light, refined, full of elegance and charm, in line with the fashion of the time. The Coronation Portrait was a huge success for Bacciarelli – he became the king’s court painter and received a Polish noble title. The portrait was often copied by the artist himself. The collection of the National Museum in Krakow owns a copy made by the master’s hand.

Barbara Ciciora