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Portrait of Mikolaj Potocki

unknown

Basic information

ID: Ж-6215
Author: unknown
Name: Portrait of Mikolaj Potocki
Date of creation: 18th c.
Country: Austria
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions: 54 x 70 cm (height x width)

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: portraiture
Provenance: the Potocki-Sadowski collection (Chortkiv Castle)

Information about author

Author: unknown

Object description

Mikolaj Potocki (1712–1782, Pilawa coat of arms) was an elder of Kaniv, a son of Stefan Potocki, the voivode of Belz, and Anna (Joanna) Sieniawska. He was a famous philanthropist. Prominent architects and sculptors of the 18th century such as Bernard Meretyn, Johann Georg Pinzel, etc. were of service to Mikolaj Potocki. Several versions of Potocki's portraits have been preserved both inside and outside of Ukraine. The ceremonial representational half-length portrait of M. Potocki was painted adhering to the canons: the figure is depicted in a formal pose, turned three-quarters to the left, with his hand at his waist. The dark background around the ovoid head is illuminated, drawing attention to the face of the subject. The high forehead, small eyes, long nose, massive chin and curled up moustache are carefully painted. The 18th-century portraits began to display an emotional colouring that reveals the inner state of the portrayed.

Portrayed person