DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29195#0052
Secrets of the Past
The happy
coupie,
Stanistaw
Kostka
Potocki
and his wife
Aleksandra
It often happens that notwithstanding their great merit, some individuals stand in
the shadow of their spouses or siblings. Sometimes a distinguished lady may over-
shadow her no Iess outstanding husband. That was the case with Adam Kazimierz
Czartoryski, the Princess Marshal’s brother, who is far less widely known than his
wife Izabela Czartoryska nee Fleming. Aleksandra Potocka nee Lubomirska was one
of the most eminent individuals associated with the Palace (Fig. 48), and we shall be
Fig. 48. Pompeo Batoni, Aleksandra Potocka
nee Lubomirska (the wife of Stanistaw Kostka)
as Melpomene, oils on canvas, 1780; Wilanow
Palace Museum
mentioning her quite often. This noble character is somewhat obscured by her re-
nowned husband, Stanislaw Kostka Potocki, who nonetheless appreciated the merits
of his consort. And he expressed his appreciation in the most elegant terms, as befit-
ted a Classicist, in the introduction to his historic book, Winkelman polski, the first
history of art written in Polish, and published in 1815. His words might be Englished
in this way: Yours is this Work.for without You it would never have come into Existence.
Dedicating it to You, I wouldfain have it an Eternal Memorial ofmy gratitude worthy
56
The happy
coupie,
Stanistaw
Kostka
Potocki
and his wife
Aleksandra
It often happens that notwithstanding their great merit, some individuals stand in
the shadow of their spouses or siblings. Sometimes a distinguished lady may over-
shadow her no Iess outstanding husband. That was the case with Adam Kazimierz
Czartoryski, the Princess Marshal’s brother, who is far less widely known than his
wife Izabela Czartoryska nee Fleming. Aleksandra Potocka nee Lubomirska was one
of the most eminent individuals associated with the Palace (Fig. 48), and we shall be
Fig. 48. Pompeo Batoni, Aleksandra Potocka
nee Lubomirska (the wife of Stanistaw Kostka)
as Melpomene, oils on canvas, 1780; Wilanow
Palace Museum
mentioning her quite often. This noble character is somewhat obscured by her re-
nowned husband, Stanislaw Kostka Potocki, who nonetheless appreciated the merits
of his consort. And he expressed his appreciation in the most elegant terms, as befit-
ted a Classicist, in the introduction to his historic book, Winkelman polski, the first
history of art written in Polish, and published in 1815. His words might be Englished
in this way: Yours is this Work.for without You it would never have come into Existence.
Dedicating it to You, I wouldfain have it an Eternal Memorial ofmy gratitude worthy
56