material: oil on canvas
dimensions: 61,5 x 46,5 cm
description: Justyna Lanckorońska (died in 1829) was a typical, though enlightened representative of the provincial gentry. A three-class school on the Lanckoroński family’s estate in Zakliczyn and a brick church dedicated to Saint Justina were built on her initiative. The portrait of the countess is close to the Sarmatian tradition, tastes and habits. It is manifested through the absolutely realistic rendering of her face, devoid of stylization aiming at making the sitter resemble the ideal of beauty of the day, yet with visible high self-esteem. Placing the sitter against a not uniform blue background, with slightly outlined clouds, goes beyond the Sarmatian tradition. In this way, the artist alluded to the then fashionable English portrait painting. The comparison of the portrait of Justyna Lanckorońska and the portrait of Józef Kossakowski, dating back to the same period, clearly shows different tastes of the people who ordered the works as well as the painters’ ability to meet the expectations of their clients. Barbara Ciciora
exposition: The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice,
The Cloth Hall, 1, Main Market Square
key: Enlightenment >>>
dimensions: 61,5 x 46,5 cm
description: Justyna Lanckorońska (died in 1829) was a typical, though enlightened representative of the provincial gentry. A three-class school on the Lanckoroński family’s estate in Zakliczyn and a brick church dedicated to Saint Justina were built on her initiative. The portrait of the countess is close to the Sarmatian tradition, tastes and habits. It is manifested through the absolutely realistic rendering of her face, devoid of stylization aiming at making the sitter resemble the ideal of beauty of the day, yet with visible high self-esteem. Placing the sitter against a not uniform blue background, with slightly outlined clouds, goes beyond the Sarmatian tradition. In this way, the artist alluded to the then fashionable English portrait painting. The comparison of the portrait of Justyna Lanckorońska and the portrait of Józef Kossakowski, dating back to the same period, clearly shows different tastes of the people who ordered the works as well as the painters’ ability to meet the expectations of their clients. Barbara Ciciora
exposition: The Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in Sukiennice,
The Cloth Hall, 1, Main Market Square
key: Enlightenment >>>