DOI article:
Prószyńska, Zuzanna: "Fidem fati - virtute sequemur": The portrait of Stanislaus Augustus with an hourglass
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18942#0008
Sequemur," (Fig. 2) he accepted the decrees of Providence with stoicism and thus becoming
a philosopher-king.22 To what purpose would he summon the embarrassing motif of "death-
-throes" and bring out the obscure aspects of his royal existence?
Perceived in the context of a royal apology, the painting prompts quite different reflections.
Evidently, it was created at a moment when Stanislaus Augustus was anxious to vindicate his
steps and engaged in the preparation, in strictest confidence, of a work "elucidating the whole
procedurę of his endeavours",23. He began work in mid-1792 and the King published
anonymously a leaf let entitled Czytałem — a ja wcale trzymam lepiej o królu (/ Have Read of the
Matter—and I am of a Better Opinion ofthe King), where he argued against the views of military
officers criticising him as the commander of a lost war.23 Only in December, however, did he
complete a very important chapter of his apology — Zdanie o królu polskim (An Opinion of the
Polish King). Sending the manuscript to Gdańsk on 24th January 1793, he informed
commissioner Henning: "Here is an essay you should have printed in the utmost secrecy, order
fifty copies in the smali octavo format, and send it back, in similar secrecy, as soon as possible".
This smali booklet antedated "1 792" saw the light of print on 16th February 1793.25 Stanislaus
Augustus intended it as a means by which to shape "opinions of the Polish King's conduct and
assess whether the King had truły had no other goal and motives than the country's ultimate
good or at least the lesser evil". Arguing the charges of, on the one hand, members of the
Confederation of Targowica, and, on the other, of Polish patriots, the King explained everything
that had happened beyond his power and without his consent, and stated, among other things,
that until the passing ofthe Constitution of 3rd May, to supremę executive power had been given
over "to the charge and protection of a foreign state by virtue of a guarantee", whereas he was
only able to run the government for a year, after which he had to give up the cause of the
Constitution undertaken "entirely for the nation's benefit, independence and glory" in order to
protect the endangered edifice of the state. Yet he underlined that the Confederation of
Targowica "had quite immobilised the King", as a result of which he was persecuted and
eventually deprived of having any influence on the situation in the country.26 It is also noteworthy
that, just as in the case of his allegorical portrait, the King took pains to have several manuscript
copies of the text prepared, each time enriching them with new elements of his self-defence.27
Closely linked with the royal apology is Stanislaus Augustus' Portrait with an Hourglass, an
enigmatic work, evidently evading any attempt at straightforward interpretation. In fact, it is
reminiscent of a jig-saw puzzle, pieces of which have to be put together to reveal the hidden
meaning. Ali its elements have a profoundly symbolic expression; placed in the correct seguence,
21. In 1766, the ruler, born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, confessed in a letter to the French dipiomat Baron de
Breteuil: "Since destiny has not asked our opinion but started us on our ways, we haveto pursue them, whether we want it or
not;" cf E.M. Rostworowski, "Religijność i polityka wyznaniowa Stanisława Augusta" ("Stanislaus Augustus' Religious-
ness and Denominational Policy"), Tygodnik Powszechny, XXXIX, 1 985, no. 1 5, p. 4. The Capricorn motto is quoted there
after: Silvestri a Petrasancta, Symbola Hero/ca, Amstelaedami, 1682, pp. 227, f. The King kept one of the numerous editions
of the work in his library in the Royal Castle in Warsaw; cf. AGAD (Central Archives), Prince J. Poniatowski Archives, MS
Ml/268, k. 37.
22. On affirmation of destiny by the Stoics, cf. F. Bachtiger, Vanitas — Schicksalsdeutung in der deutschen Renaissancegraphik,
Zurich, 1970, pp. 5, f.
23. The programme of the royal apology is presented by E. Rostworowski, "Zdanie o królu polskim" ("Opinion of the Polish
King"), in id. Legendy i fakty XVIII w. {Legends and Facts of the 18th c). Warszawa, 1963, pp. 488-506. Additional
information in the works: B. Zaleski "Mikołaja Wolskiego obrona Stanisława Augusta" ("Mikołaj Wolski's Defence of
Stanislaus Augustus"), Rocznik Towarzystwa H istoryczno- Literackiego w Paryżu na rok 1867, Paris, 1 868. p. 9; A Zahorski,
op. cit, 38^8, 65-112.
24. Cf. A. Zahorski, op. cit., p. 38.
25. Cf. E. Rostworowski, Zdanie, op. cit., p. 493.
26. The ful! text of the Zdanie o królu polskim (Opinion of the Polish King) from M. Wolski's manuscript was reprinted by B.
Zaleski, op. cit., pp. 10-28.
27. Five manuscript copies of the work, also including a sequel and notes, survived in the Royal Papers; cf. E. Rostworowski, op.
cit., pp. 499, f.
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a philosopher-king.22 To what purpose would he summon the embarrassing motif of "death-
-throes" and bring out the obscure aspects of his royal existence?
Perceived in the context of a royal apology, the painting prompts quite different reflections.
Evidently, it was created at a moment when Stanislaus Augustus was anxious to vindicate his
steps and engaged in the preparation, in strictest confidence, of a work "elucidating the whole
procedurę of his endeavours",23. He began work in mid-1792 and the King published
anonymously a leaf let entitled Czytałem — a ja wcale trzymam lepiej o królu (/ Have Read of the
Matter—and I am of a Better Opinion ofthe King), where he argued against the views of military
officers criticising him as the commander of a lost war.23 Only in December, however, did he
complete a very important chapter of his apology — Zdanie o królu polskim (An Opinion of the
Polish King). Sending the manuscript to Gdańsk on 24th January 1793, he informed
commissioner Henning: "Here is an essay you should have printed in the utmost secrecy, order
fifty copies in the smali octavo format, and send it back, in similar secrecy, as soon as possible".
This smali booklet antedated "1 792" saw the light of print on 16th February 1793.25 Stanislaus
Augustus intended it as a means by which to shape "opinions of the Polish King's conduct and
assess whether the King had truły had no other goal and motives than the country's ultimate
good or at least the lesser evil". Arguing the charges of, on the one hand, members of the
Confederation of Targowica, and, on the other, of Polish patriots, the King explained everything
that had happened beyond his power and without his consent, and stated, among other things,
that until the passing ofthe Constitution of 3rd May, to supremę executive power had been given
over "to the charge and protection of a foreign state by virtue of a guarantee", whereas he was
only able to run the government for a year, after which he had to give up the cause of the
Constitution undertaken "entirely for the nation's benefit, independence and glory" in order to
protect the endangered edifice of the state. Yet he underlined that the Confederation of
Targowica "had quite immobilised the King", as a result of which he was persecuted and
eventually deprived of having any influence on the situation in the country.26 It is also noteworthy
that, just as in the case of his allegorical portrait, the King took pains to have several manuscript
copies of the text prepared, each time enriching them with new elements of his self-defence.27
Closely linked with the royal apology is Stanislaus Augustus' Portrait with an Hourglass, an
enigmatic work, evidently evading any attempt at straightforward interpretation. In fact, it is
reminiscent of a jig-saw puzzle, pieces of which have to be put together to reveal the hidden
meaning. Ali its elements have a profoundly symbolic expression; placed in the correct seguence,
21. In 1766, the ruler, born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, confessed in a letter to the French dipiomat Baron de
Breteuil: "Since destiny has not asked our opinion but started us on our ways, we haveto pursue them, whether we want it or
not;" cf E.M. Rostworowski, "Religijność i polityka wyznaniowa Stanisława Augusta" ("Stanislaus Augustus' Religious-
ness and Denominational Policy"), Tygodnik Powszechny, XXXIX, 1 985, no. 1 5, p. 4. The Capricorn motto is quoted there
after: Silvestri a Petrasancta, Symbola Hero/ca, Amstelaedami, 1682, pp. 227, f. The King kept one of the numerous editions
of the work in his library in the Royal Castle in Warsaw; cf. AGAD (Central Archives), Prince J. Poniatowski Archives, MS
Ml/268, k. 37.
22. On affirmation of destiny by the Stoics, cf. F. Bachtiger, Vanitas — Schicksalsdeutung in der deutschen Renaissancegraphik,
Zurich, 1970, pp. 5, f.
23. The programme of the royal apology is presented by E. Rostworowski, "Zdanie o królu polskim" ("Opinion of the Polish
King"), in id. Legendy i fakty XVIII w. {Legends and Facts of the 18th c). Warszawa, 1963, pp. 488-506. Additional
information in the works: B. Zaleski "Mikołaja Wolskiego obrona Stanisława Augusta" ("Mikołaj Wolski's Defence of
Stanislaus Augustus"), Rocznik Towarzystwa H istoryczno- Literackiego w Paryżu na rok 1867, Paris, 1 868. p. 9; A Zahorski,
op. cit, 38^8, 65-112.
24. Cf. A. Zahorski, op. cit., p. 38.
25. Cf. E. Rostworowski, Zdanie, op. cit., p. 493.
26. The ful! text of the Zdanie o królu polskim (Opinion of the Polish King) from M. Wolski's manuscript was reprinted by B.
Zaleski, op. cit., pp. 10-28.
27. Five manuscript copies of the work, also including a sequel and notes, survived in the Royal Papers; cf. E. Rostworowski, op.
cit., pp. 499, f.
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