Izabela Branicka

Portrait of Izabela Branicka nee Poniatowska This painting from the collection of the museum shows the bust of a young woman. Her eyes are directed outside of the frame, to the left. The background is uniform, slightly brighter at the woman’s head. The painting has a gilded, decorated, rococo frame. The author is Augustyn Mirys (b. 1700 in France, d. in 1790 in Nowe Miasto near Białystok). Much of his work is lost, and seeing as he did not have the habit of signing his works, it is difficult to establish authorship with certainty. The painting captures the freedom of movement of the model, the raw composition and liveliness of colours. The portrayed lady is Izabella Elżbieta Branicka nee Poniatowska, called the „Lady of Kraków” (b. June 1730 in Warsaw, d. February 1808 in Białystok), sister to Poland’s last king, Stanisław August, wife to Jan Klemens Branicki (whom she married when she was 18, Jan Klemens was 59 at the time). She was the hetman’s third wife. It was thanks to her that the city saw the establishment of schools, medicine developed (she employed on the court a medical doctor and obstetrician, who founded the Institute of Midwifery, an outstanding event in then-contemporary times). She supported the arts, drawing foreign artists to Białystok, she had an extensive library, which, together with maps, globes and albums numbered 600 pieces. After her husband’s death, she inherited his property and did not cease her work as a patroness of arts. She remarried, choosing Andrzej Mokronowski, who was Branicki’s subordinate. She died in 1808 and is buried in the catacombs of the arch-cathedral basilica of Białystok.