Portrait of Jan Karol Mniszech

Jan Karol Mniszech (1716–1759) – son of Jozef, castellan of Krakow, and Constance of Tarlowie. He was a court master of the hunt, the great chamberlain Lithuanian and a lieutenant-general of the royal army. In the inventory of Pidhirtsi Castle, the painting was mentioned in 1768, 1812–13, 1859, and 1887 as a portrait of Mniszech, the great chamberlain Lithuanian. The work was first displayed in the chapel and later in the dining room. The half-length figure of Jan Karol Mniszech is depicted on a neutral background of olive drapery. Following the archaic canons of representational portraiture, the man is presented in a formal pose: three-quarters turned to the right, one hand on the hilt of the sword, dressed in brown and red caftans decorated along the sides, wearing a blue ribbon with the Order of the White Eagle over his shoulder, a White Eagle star on his chest – the honours he had received in 1744. The artist focused on the face of the subject: high forehead, straight arches of eyebrows, long and hooked pointed nose, closely set eyes, gaze directed to the side, heavy chin – all emphasise the features of a strong-willed and purposeful man.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery