Princess Giuliana Pubblicola Santacroce
- Date
- 1791
- Object type
- painting
- Technique
- oil
- Material
- canvas
- Dimensions
- 95,5 x 79,2 cm
- Acquisition date
- 1792
- Location
- The Palace on the Isle - Picture Gallery, ground floor
- Marks and inscriptions
- signed and dated Angelica Kauffmann pinx: Romae 1791 on left, near shoulder red number 1808 of the Stanisław August collection, bottom right (twice)
- Place of Origin
- Rome (Italy)
- Owner
- The Royal Łazienki
- Museum number
- ŁKr 855
Giuliana Pubblicola Santacroce (after 1746–1814), came from the Florentine Falconieri family; in 1767 she married Prince Antonio Pubblicola Santacroce. In 1790 the Primate—and King Stanisław August’s brother—Michał Poniatowski travelled to Rome and met her through Cardinal François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, the French ambassador to Rome, with whom Giuliana had a liaison which lasted for many years.Through the intermediary of Poniatowski, the Princess’ brother, Lelio Falconieri, was awarded the Order of the White Eagle a year later, on 3 May 1791, by Stanisław August. The portrait by Angelika Kauffmann was an expression of gratitude for the Polish king’s gesture … .
Princess Santacroce is depicted as the virtuous Roman Lucretia, who unable to bear shame, chose to die by her own hand. A somewhat unusual and intriguing detail in this conventional portrayal is the hazy outline of a mysterious hand which seizes the Princess’ right hand in which she is holding a dagger. In an emphatic letter to Giuliana Santacroce dated 21 March 1782 Stanislaw August wrote: ‘Quand j’ai appercu sur le tableau cette main aérienne, qui paroit vouloir retenir le bras armé du poignard, j’ai cru sentir que la mienne se portait vouloir d’elle même à faire la même chose…’ … . [See D. Juszczak, H. Małachowicz, The Stanisław August Collection of Paintings at the Royal Łazienki. Catalogue, Royal Łazienki Museum, Warsaw 2016, no. 54, pp. 213–215.]