Portrait of Stanisław August Poniatowski in Coronation Robes 1764

This is a painted portrait of Stanisław August Poniatowski in his coronation robes, made by Marcello Bacciarelli. The medium is oil on canvas, a well-established tradition by the 18th century. What’s fascinating here is how the qualities of oil paint are used to represent other materials. The ermine trim, the gold embroidery, the jewels – all are illusions created by the artist’s hand. Think of the labor required not only to paint this image, but also to produce the real textiles and precious objects that it depicts. The coronation robes themselves would have been the product of many skilled hands, from weavers to embroiderers, goldsmiths to jewelers. Bacciarelli's expert handling of oil paint elevates these crafts. The painting becomes more than just a portrait; it's a document of the material culture of power, and an index of the many different kinds of work that upheld the Polish monarchy. This is not just fine art, but a celebration of skilled craftsmanship, and a potent symbol of social order.