| Abstrakt: |
Zofia Branicka (1821-1887) was a wealthy Polish noblewoman who married an Italian Prince Livio III Erba Odescalchi (1805-1885) in 1841. From then on, until her death, she lived in Rome. Thanks to her opulent dowry, Odescalchi family could buy back, among others, the Bracciano castle near Rome. Zofia was very well-educated and a polyglot. From the very first years of her stay in Rome, she started to organize famous soirèes at her salon in Palazzo Odescalchi. In this way, Princess Zofia gathered the elite of aristocracy, diplomatic circles and the clergy, from different European countries. Soon, she had a possibility to become acquainted with the pope Pius IX, with whom she would maintain a real and close friendship. Zofia had informed the pope about the complex situation of Poland, partitioned by its neighbours. From the beginning of her stay in Italy she also was involved in charity work. The princess was very engaged in financial and organizational help to Polish people in Italy (emigrèes, insurgents, priests, artists). She was depicted by several well-known painters. First portrait of Zofia was painted by her mother - Róża Potocka Branicka. Then she was painted by Alexander Clarot, Emilio Rossi, Ary Scheffer, Franz Xaver Winterhalter and probably by Floriano Pietrocola. The author of the article studied a hitherto relatively unknown group of four unsigned portraits of her. A famous Roman artist - Pietro Tenerani made a sculpture depicting Zofia. The princess even created several self-portraits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
