The Palace s history
Ihe Denhoff residence passed down to Maria Zofia Denhoffowa nee Sieniawska
still in the reign of Augustus II, who had tried to purchase it (but in vain) to extend
his own, adjacent property, the Palac Saski (“Saxon Palace”). Maria Zofia was the wife
of Stanislaw Ernest Denhoff and it is due to her that the Palace is associated with the
once illustrious House of Sieniawski. Stanislaw Ernest Denhoff died without issue in
1728, leaving Maria Zofia a widow after just four years of marriage. We see Stanislaw
and his young wife Maria Zofia depicted by an unknown artist in a group portrait
preserved in the Museum of Wilanow Palace (Fig. 6). In a truly Sarmatianist style,
the painting shows two married couples, the other pair being the Sieniawski, Maria
Zofia’s parents. We are fortunate to have another, quality portrait of Stanislaw Ernest
Denhoff (Fig. 7). It is a large canvas kept in the Royal Eazienki Palace and shows
a handsome, grey-haired man with a lively, intelligent face.
Fig. 6. Unidentified painter, Portrait of Lord
Hetman Sieniawski and his wife, with their
daughter Maria Zofia and her first husband,
Stanistaw Denhoff, oils on canvas, 1724-26;
Wilanow Palace Museum
Ihe Denhoff residence passed down to Maria Zofia Denhoffowa nee Sieniawska
still in the reign of Augustus II, who had tried to purchase it (but in vain) to extend
his own, adjacent property, the Palac Saski (“Saxon Palace”). Maria Zofia was the wife
of Stanislaw Ernest Denhoff and it is due to her that the Palace is associated with the
once illustrious House of Sieniawski. Stanislaw Ernest Denhoff died without issue in
1728, leaving Maria Zofia a widow after just four years of marriage. We see Stanislaw
and his young wife Maria Zofia depicted by an unknown artist in a group portrait
preserved in the Museum of Wilanow Palace (Fig. 6). In a truly Sarmatianist style,
the painting shows two married couples, the other pair being the Sieniawski, Maria
Zofia’s parents. We are fortunate to have another, quality portrait of Stanislaw Ernest
Denhoff (Fig. 7). It is a large canvas kept in the Royal Eazienki Palace and shows
a handsome, grey-haired man with a lively, intelligent face.
Fig. 6. Unidentified painter, Portrait of Lord
Hetman Sieniawski and his wife, with their
daughter Maria Zofia and her first husband,
Stanistaw Denhoff, oils on canvas, 1724-26;
Wilanow Palace Museum