Miziołek, Jerzy; Kowalski, Hubert: Secrets of the past: Czartoryski-Potocki Palace home of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage ([Warszawa], 2014)

mimmm


Secrets of the Past


imh inmtMtim

■ -M

had been associated in his youth. As Konopczynski writes, he lefi hispolitical legacy, that
is the Familia’s programme andparty, to Stanislaw Lubomirski and Ignacy Potocki; and
his material estate to Prince Adam (60 million zloty) and Princess Elzbieta [Izabela] (over
25 million zloty). Like his brother, he grew weaker and weaker as he approached death, but
fully preserved his wits and peace ofmind to the very end. On the day ofhis death he lost
his sight, nonetheless he had himself brought into the drawing room at the usual hour, and
when he recognised the papal nuncio on hearing his voice, he apologised jocundly that he
would not be able to play their usualgame oftryset [a Polish cardgame] that night. On hear-
ingfrom his doctor that this was the end, he made his confession and asked all ofthe mem-
bers ofthe household into his room, and as the nuncio was reading the words oftheprayer
forhim, “Now, Lord, into Thy hands Icommendmy spirit,”hegave him agentlehandshake
and died. Crowds ofVarsovians attended his funeral in the crypt ofthe Church ofthe Holy
Cross,for indeed he was worthy ofsuch a farewell (Konopczynski 1938, pp. 72-73).

Napoleon,

"magnetising

enslavement,”

and a

Bacciareiii

painting

The numerous actions undertaken by the Czartoryski Family, and the profound
commitment of Ignacy and Stanislaw Kostka Potocki and many other patriots to
the healing of the state did not save it from collapse. Surrogates of revival came with
the establishment first of the Duchy ofWarsaw (1807-1815), and subsequently of the
Congress Kingdom of Poland. Although Napoleon had disappointed many Polish
people by setting up just a rather small Duchy of Warsaw, nonetheless it was thanks
to that tiny state that the Congress Kingdom could be created (Grochulska 1970).
The Polish Enlightenment could mature and bear fruit; the University of Warsaw
was founded, and within its confines the Department of Fine Arts; the capital city
became one of the metropolises of Central Europe. Kazimierz Brodziriski and Fry-
deryk Chopin opened up the gates for Romanticism, while Stanislaw Kostka Potocki
laid the foundations for Polish art history and dassical archaeology (Pomian 2006).
Another phenomenon belonging to the legacy of this period is something that might
be labelled “magnetising enslavement”, and has a place in the story of our Palace.