Author(s): Dominika Fesser / Language(s): Polish
Issue: 3 (40)/2016
This paper is an edition of a work by Anna z Mycielskich Radziwiłłowa: Opisanie choroby J[aśnie] O[świeconej] Księżnej J[ej] M[oś]ci Anny z Mycielskich Radziwiłłowej, w niebezpieczeństwie życia zostającej i od doktorów opuszczoną będąc, cudem Pana Jezusa Antokolskiego i Matki Najśw[iętszej] Ostrobromskiej uzdrowiona, sama opisała 1753 [A description of the sickness of Her Enlightened Grace Duchess Anna z Mycielskich Radziwiłłowa, who facing the risk of death, and being deserted by doctors, was wonderfully healed by Jesus of Antakalnis and Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, which she penned herself in the year 1753].
The paper was prepared on the basis of a manuscript from the Baworowski Library, currently in the collection of The L’viv National Vasyl Stefanyk Scientific Library of Ukraine.Its introduction draws on the available sources—mainly a paper by Jakub Bajer and Andrea Mariani: Macocha idealna. Aktywność Anny Luizy z Mycielskich w świetle francuskiej korespondencji dyplomatycznej (1764–1765)[A Perfect Step-Mother. The Activity of Anna Luiza z Mycielskich in the Light of Frech Diplomatic Correspondence (1764–1765)]; and an entry by Hanna Dymnicka-Wołoszyńska in The Polish Biographical Dictionary: Radziwiłłowa z Mycielskich Anna Ludwika Karolina Kunegunda (1729–1771). It presents the mid-18th century author taking into account her relations with the Radziwiłł family in Nesvizh, yet before her marriage with Leon Michał Radziwiłł, her later family life, and her cultural activity in the Nesvizh estate–both as an actress and a writer.
The above-mentioned papers are the only sources describing the life of Anna z Mycielskich from a wider perspective. To date, researchers have focused mainly on the life of the relative, Franciszka Urszula Radziwiłłowa. The poetical and epistolary output of Duchess Anna has not yet drawn the attention of literary scholars. Thanks to the manuscript in The L’viv National Vasyl Stefanyk Scientific Library of Ukraine it is now possible to rediscover the literary legacy of the poet, and most importantly, to examine it. In the introduction, the author not only presents the Duchess’ life, but also describes her cartulary, which comprises a copy of her work; its provenance is here identified and the authors of works contained in the cartulary are listed. The edition is supplemented with a brief description of Mycielska’s work, which mentions places of religious worship in Wilno, the figure of Jesus of Antakalnis, and the Gate of Dawn. It also contains an editorial commentary and transcription principles.
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