Portrait of Mr Chełmicki

In 18th-century Poland, portrait painting was created in two different conventions. The portraits of the gentry, especially in the provinces, were of a native, Sarmatian character, while the court portraits depicted representatives of the aristocracy in the Western European type. The canon of a representative portrait with the model's apparent idealisation prevailed until the end of the century. The portrait of the Chełmicki couple was painted traditionally. Each figure was portrayed against a dark, neutral background contrasting with the vivid colour of the attire and the bright, realistic modelling of the face with a penetrating gaze. The portrayed appeared to maintain eye contact with the viewer. The spouses' clothes, shown with great care, are in line with the latest fashion trends (primarily Mrs Chełmicka's), while the composition of the portraits is maintained in the traditional convention. Mr Chełmicki, with his characteristically shaved hair, is dressed in a robe. At the end of the 18th century, such attire may have signified the nobleman's attachment to the Sarmatian tradition and expressed patriotic feelings. The times of political unrest and the spectre of loss of independence also influenced the manifestation of views through traditional attire, a robe, and zhupan. A characteristic detail of Mr Chełmicki's portrait is a wooden snuffbox that the owner proudly presents, reaching for a pinch of powdered tobacco. The then-fashionable custom of snuff consumption contributed to the development of special small gold, silver, ceramic and wooden containers. Wooden snuff boxes, bought by less wealthy or simply thrifty clients, were produced In Lublin.

Magdalena Norkowska