DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29195#0040
Secrets of the Past
Fig. 30. Efraim Szreger, Design for the foun-
tain put up in Warsaw for King Stanistaw Au-
gust's name day in 1766, drawing; GR BUW
the next day at eleven I met that extraordinary man, the marvellous Lord Voivode of
Ruthenia. The illustrious gentleman was in his morning dress, standing in a group of
Polish nohles in their national costume and high boots. . . . The Prince spoke to each in
a friendly but stately manner. As soon as his son Adam mentioned my name his face lit
up and he received me in a most dignified and affable way. He was not overbearing,
but neither did he admit confidentiality, which gave him the opportunity to closely ob-
serve the person whose acquaintance he wished to make. He went behind a screen and
had his servants dress him, whereupon he appeared in his regimental uniform, in the
French fashion, with a long blond wig and a long queue and large tresses on his cheek-
bones, attire from the reign of Augustus III. He bowed to allpresent and retired to his
rooms, where his wife was. She was convalescing after an illness which would have been
very grave had it not been for the adroitness of Dr. Reimann, a student of the great
Boerhaave. (Polska stanislawowska w oczach cudzoziemcow 1963, p. 235). Casanova
accepted an invitation to dinner and found that there were three tables very sump-
tuously laid, each for thirty diners, and was told that such was the everyday prac-
tice. The splendour of the Voivode’s house eclipsed the glories of the royal court.
We should add that Casanova was also introduced to King Stanislaw August, who
offered him hospitality and generous gifts.
To honour the new King on his feast-day (St. Stanislaus’ day, 8th May) in 1766 ,
the Prince Voivode had a fountain that poured out wine installed near the Palace,
in the forecourt in front of the Visitandine Church (Lorentz 1986, pp. 108—110). It
was designed by the already-mentioned Efraim Szreger (Fig. 30), and a record of it is
preserved in an etching kept in the Print Room of the University of Warsaw Library.
A brief glance at this illustration is enough to show the class of artworks commis-
sioned by Prince August Aleksander. The structure was 13 metres high, with the
fountain set up on a large plinth and decorated with vases and an eagle with out-
spread wings, the emblem of Poland, set in a niche. The fountain appears to have been
44
Fig. 30. Efraim Szreger, Design for the foun-
tain put up in Warsaw for King Stanistaw Au-
gust's name day in 1766, drawing; GR BUW
the next day at eleven I met that extraordinary man, the marvellous Lord Voivode of
Ruthenia. The illustrious gentleman was in his morning dress, standing in a group of
Polish nohles in their national costume and high boots. . . . The Prince spoke to each in
a friendly but stately manner. As soon as his son Adam mentioned my name his face lit
up and he received me in a most dignified and affable way. He was not overbearing,
but neither did he admit confidentiality, which gave him the opportunity to closely ob-
serve the person whose acquaintance he wished to make. He went behind a screen and
had his servants dress him, whereupon he appeared in his regimental uniform, in the
French fashion, with a long blond wig and a long queue and large tresses on his cheek-
bones, attire from the reign of Augustus III. He bowed to allpresent and retired to his
rooms, where his wife was. She was convalescing after an illness which would have been
very grave had it not been for the adroitness of Dr. Reimann, a student of the great
Boerhaave. (Polska stanislawowska w oczach cudzoziemcow 1963, p. 235). Casanova
accepted an invitation to dinner and found that there were three tables very sump-
tuously laid, each for thirty diners, and was told that such was the everyday prac-
tice. The splendour of the Voivode’s house eclipsed the glories of the royal court.
We should add that Casanova was also introduced to King Stanislaw August, who
offered him hospitality and generous gifts.
To honour the new King on his feast-day (St. Stanislaus’ day, 8th May) in 1766 ,
the Prince Voivode had a fountain that poured out wine installed near the Palace,
in the forecourt in front of the Visitandine Church (Lorentz 1986, pp. 108—110). It
was designed by the already-mentioned Efraim Szreger (Fig. 30), and a record of it is
preserved in an etching kept in the Print Room of the University of Warsaw Library.
A brief glance at this illustration is enough to show the class of artworks commis-
sioned by Prince August Aleksander. The structure was 13 metres high, with the
fountain set up on a large plinth and decorated with vases and an eagle with out-
spread wings, the emblem of Poland, set in a niche. The fountain appears to have been
44