Władysław Łokietek - Kajetan Sołtyk's entourage

The medal in honour of Władysław Łokietek (1306-1333) is part of a medallic series dating from around 1790-1800, created on the initiative of the Dean of the Kraków Cathedral, writer and collector, Michał Sołtyk (†1815). It consists of fifteen medals portraying the Kraków Prince Bolesław Wstydliwy (1243-1279), Casimir the Great (1333-1370), Władysław Jagiełło (1386-1434), Casimir the Jagiellon (1447-1492), Sigismund I the Old (1506-1548), Sigismund II Augustus (1548-1572), Stefan Batory (1576-1586) and Sigismund III Vasa (1587-1632), as well as outstanding commanders: Jan Tarnowski (†1561), Jan Zamoyski (†1605), Stanisław Żółkiewski (†1620), Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (†1621), Stefan Czarniecki (†1665) and Bishop of Kraków Kajetan Sołtyk (†1788), uncle of Michał. These works are part of the then fashion in Europe for a series of medals on historical subjects. Stanisław August Poniatowski (1764-1795) succumbed to it as well. At the beginning of the 1790s, he commissioned the court medal makers Jan Filip Holzhaeusser (†1792) to prepare the first medallic portrait of the rulers of Poland, the so-called Royal Entourage.

The drawing design of the medals for the Court of the King's entourage was prepared by the Kraków painter Michał Stachowicz. The stamps of the works depicting the rulers were made, most probably by a Jewish engraver connected with Kraków, Szachna Aszer. His medals have simplified drawings of figures, poor lettering and are devoid of artistic value. Much better in this respect are the other medals of the series, made by the Viennese artist Józef Mikołaj Lang (†1835). The series was made at the Vienna mint.

On the medal, next to the representation of the King surrounded by Latin titles, translating: "Władysław Łokietek by God's grace King of Poland, Prince of Prussia, Mazovia, etc.", the inscription on the reverse, translating: "Homeland and throne restored, reigned gloriously, father of Casimir the Great, died in 1333". In turn, the abbreviation: "S.M.S." Sumptu Michaelis Sołtyk says that the creation of the work was financed by Michał Sołtyk.

Our copy is a copy made in casting technique, most probably in the 19th century. It was purchased for the collection in 1965 together with the Bolesław Minka collection.

Tomasz Markiewicz