Kronika Zamkowa 2017. 06. Poninski. Prawda i fantazja. Portrety króla Jana Kazimierza w strojach polskich.
Truth and fantasy. Portraits of King Jan Kazimierz in Polish costume.

Summary/Abstract: The text discusses likenesses of the Polish king, Jan Kazimierz, which show him in Polish costume. For almost his entire life, this king dressed in accordance with prevailing Western European trends, however, in the years 1649–1651 he adopted Polish dress. The official ceremonial version of this consisted of a żupan, a cloth belt and a second leather one with metal parts, to which his sabre was affixed. An ermine-lined delia—a kind of coat—was worn over the żupan. The outfit was completed with a fur-rimmed cap and shoes. Of the undergarments, only the shirt collar could sometimes be seen. Although the monarch only dressed in the Polish style for less than two years, many likenesses were made of him thus attired. These representations were mainly oil paintings and engraved portraits, which were used and copied by artists working in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and in Western Europe. In Poland, they were used, above all, for the needs of the Church, and in Western Europe as engraved portraits. In the compositions made outside of Poland, fantastical elements were introduced or ones which were taken from other depictions. Portraits of the king in Polish costume were appealing to western recipients because they showed elements that they were unfamiliar with. They were also preferred by members of the Polish nobility, who regarded them as being more appropriate for the king of Poland.

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