Kolekcja Jana Ponętowskiego. Wstęp do opisu zawartości
The Collection of Jan Ponętowski. An Introduction to the Description of its Contents

Summary/Abstract: Jan Ponętowski (ca. 1530–1598), who was the abbot in Hradište (Moravia) from 1577 to 1587, was also a collector who managed to bring together one of the most valuable Polish art collections of his time. Of this collection, about 900 prints bound in volumes, a number of books illustrated with engravings and woodcuts as well as three rolls of etchings are now held by the Jagiellonian Library. All of these are sixteenth-century prints, made for the most part by the use of metal techniques. Four fifths of them come from the Netherlands and the rest from Italy. Part of Ponętowski’s library has also survived, including several manuscripts and incunabula. Some of these books have extremely fine artistic bindings made of materials such as silk or velvet and adorned with pearls and coral, while others – made of leather – are mostly decorated with plaques. Most of the bindings come from Bohemia. Unfortunately, a large part of Ponętowski’s collection – including fabrics, paintings on canvas and on wooden boards as well as most of the church paraments – has not survived. Additionally, most of the library has been dispersed. Ponętowski, who very much wished to be remembered by future generations, used several supralibros and bookplates. He also liked to highlight the beauty and costly nature of the artworks in his possession.The subjects which prevail among Ponętowski’s etchings are religion and history, the latter concerning events from the recent past. It is also evident that the abbot was very fond of allegories. His artistic taste is unquestionable, as no poor quality works can be found in his collection.The aim of this publication is to make a complete list of both the preserved and the lost items from Ponętowski’s collection. The article contains a list of objects held by the Jagiellonian Library (according to the shelf marks). It also mentions several items that are to be found in other locations as well as the list of Ponętowski’s donation to the Cracow University (written by the donator himself in 1592). The present list is not a detailed one. Certain objects are mentioned collectively – some in a very brief manner. Where possible and where necessary, the author has added appropriate explanations (which in some cases are only hypothetical). These mostly concern the entries on lost objects.

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