DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29195#0103
Secrets of the Past
nated to succeed Stanisiaw August, is not shown in the painting, instead Napoleon is sur-
rounded with an entourage of distinguished Polish dignitaries - Stanisiaw Malachowski,
Jan P. Luszczewski, Ludwik Gutakowski, Piotr Bieliriski, Ksawery Dziaiyriski, Walenty
Sobolewski, Stanisiaw Kostka Potocki, and Jozef Wybicki - standing next to Charles
Maurice Talleyrand and Hugues Bernard Maret. In the background we see Annibale
Carracci’s famous canvas, “The Genius of Victory”. The winged genius presented on it
was to be a harbinger of an auspicious future for the small state. In fact no such event ever
occurred, and the picture’s meaning is purely symbolic. The Duchy’s Constitution, which
Napoleon signed in Dresden on 22nd July 1807, was presented to the Poles on the follow-
ing day, not by Napoleon himself but by Maret, who had attended the ball in the Potocki
Palace exactly six months earlier (Chyczewska 1973, pp. 114—115).
Napoieon in
the Potocki
Paiace: the
most famous
social event
of 1807
Let’s now look into Leon Potocki’s book and occasionally, into other memoirs, such
as those of Anna Potocka nee Tyszkiewicz. This is how Leon Potocki introduces us to
the Duchy of Warsaw: 1806 came, bringing Europe great political changes, and Warsaw
assumed a new form, too. Napoleon the Emperor ofFrance declared war on Prussia, and
before six weeks were out his victorious troops were entering Berlin. The King ofPrussia fled
to Kdnigsberg, and the Prussians left Wdrsaw. On the evening of27h November 1806 the
vanguard ofthe French army entered the city, and on the next day at about three o’clock in
the afternoon the Emperor's viceroy Joachim Murat, Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves, ar-
rived on horseback with afine and large retinue, and was escorted into the city by PrinceJdzef
Poniatowski.. .. Murat wasput up in the house ofthe Raczyhski family on ulica Dluga, but
on the same day moved to the Palace. With the arrival of Napoleon expected imminently,
arrangements were made in the Castle, a triumphalarch wasput up near Sigismund’s Col-
umn, and illuminations were prepared. The people were looking forward with curiosity to
the arrival of the Emperor and awaiting him impatiently; finally on the night ofthe 18’^ to
igth £)ecemher he rode into Warsaw on horseback, attended only by two adjutants and the
Mameluk Rustan. He stopped in front oftheguardhouse and took a drink of water befiore the
gate of the Castle was opened, whereupon he rode into the old residence of our kings.
In 1806 Anna nee Tyszkiewicz was a resident of the Czartoryski-Potocki Palace,
in which Murat was to stay. This is how she described the circumstances which led
to the famous Marshal’s residence at Number 415 (now Number 15), Krakowskie
Przedmiescie: On the next day Prince Murat, at that time the Grand Duke ofBerg, rode
into the city on a horse. The inhabitants saw a flurry ofplumes, embroidered uniforms,
gold and silvergalloon etc. He had lodgings ready in the Raczyhski mansion, but as he did
not like a smoky chimney there he moved to our Palace as a result of that very amusing
incident (Memoirs ofthe Countess Potocka 1901, p. 63).
Let’s now return to the story in Leon Potocki’s book, which has several paragraphs
on the atmosphere of expectation for the ball. He writes about the military reviews
Napoleon conducted every day on the Krakowskie Przedmiescie or in the Saxon Gar-
den; about the Sunday Mass he attended in the Castle chapel; and about his audi-
ences. Anna Potocka nee Tyszkiewicz and Mrs. Kicka, the Lord Equerry’s wife, were
among those lucky enough to attend an audience. Leon Potocki also refers to the
memoirs of Fryderyk Skarbek and relates his account of the musical soirees attended
by the Emperor, at which Italian singers performed. Music flourished in Warsaw at
the time. Despite the city’s militarisation there were dances and other entertainments.
110
nated to succeed Stanisiaw August, is not shown in the painting, instead Napoleon is sur-
rounded with an entourage of distinguished Polish dignitaries - Stanisiaw Malachowski,
Jan P. Luszczewski, Ludwik Gutakowski, Piotr Bieliriski, Ksawery Dziaiyriski, Walenty
Sobolewski, Stanisiaw Kostka Potocki, and Jozef Wybicki - standing next to Charles
Maurice Talleyrand and Hugues Bernard Maret. In the background we see Annibale
Carracci’s famous canvas, “The Genius of Victory”. The winged genius presented on it
was to be a harbinger of an auspicious future for the small state. In fact no such event ever
occurred, and the picture’s meaning is purely symbolic. The Duchy’s Constitution, which
Napoleon signed in Dresden on 22nd July 1807, was presented to the Poles on the follow-
ing day, not by Napoleon himself but by Maret, who had attended the ball in the Potocki
Palace exactly six months earlier (Chyczewska 1973, pp. 114—115).
Napoieon in
the Potocki
Paiace: the
most famous
social event
of 1807
Let’s now look into Leon Potocki’s book and occasionally, into other memoirs, such
as those of Anna Potocka nee Tyszkiewicz. This is how Leon Potocki introduces us to
the Duchy of Warsaw: 1806 came, bringing Europe great political changes, and Warsaw
assumed a new form, too. Napoleon the Emperor ofFrance declared war on Prussia, and
before six weeks were out his victorious troops were entering Berlin. The King ofPrussia fled
to Kdnigsberg, and the Prussians left Wdrsaw. On the evening of27h November 1806 the
vanguard ofthe French army entered the city, and on the next day at about three o’clock in
the afternoon the Emperor's viceroy Joachim Murat, Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves, ar-
rived on horseback with afine and large retinue, and was escorted into the city by PrinceJdzef
Poniatowski.. .. Murat wasput up in the house ofthe Raczyhski family on ulica Dluga, but
on the same day moved to the Palace. With the arrival of Napoleon expected imminently,
arrangements were made in the Castle, a triumphalarch wasput up near Sigismund’s Col-
umn, and illuminations were prepared. The people were looking forward with curiosity to
the arrival of the Emperor and awaiting him impatiently; finally on the night ofthe 18’^ to
igth £)ecemher he rode into Warsaw on horseback, attended only by two adjutants and the
Mameluk Rustan. He stopped in front oftheguardhouse and took a drink of water befiore the
gate of the Castle was opened, whereupon he rode into the old residence of our kings.
In 1806 Anna nee Tyszkiewicz was a resident of the Czartoryski-Potocki Palace,
in which Murat was to stay. This is how she described the circumstances which led
to the famous Marshal’s residence at Number 415 (now Number 15), Krakowskie
Przedmiescie: On the next day Prince Murat, at that time the Grand Duke ofBerg, rode
into the city on a horse. The inhabitants saw a flurry ofplumes, embroidered uniforms,
gold and silvergalloon etc. He had lodgings ready in the Raczyhski mansion, but as he did
not like a smoky chimney there he moved to our Palace as a result of that very amusing
incident (Memoirs ofthe Countess Potocka 1901, p. 63).
Let’s now return to the story in Leon Potocki’s book, which has several paragraphs
on the atmosphere of expectation for the ball. He writes about the military reviews
Napoleon conducted every day on the Krakowskie Przedmiescie or in the Saxon Gar-
den; about the Sunday Mass he attended in the Castle chapel; and about his audi-
ences. Anna Potocka nee Tyszkiewicz and Mrs. Kicka, the Lord Equerry’s wife, were
among those lucky enough to attend an audience. Leon Potocki also refers to the
memoirs of Fryderyk Skarbek and relates his account of the musical soirees attended
by the Emperor, at which Italian singers performed. Music flourished in Warsaw at
the time. Despite the city’s militarisation there were dances and other entertainments.
110