The ducal dispute over the hand of Jadwiga

NIEMCEWICZ JULIAN URSYN, SPIEWY HISTORYCZNE Z MUZYKĄ I RYCINAMI, LWÓW, 1846.

Although in 1827 the Russian authorities ordered the removal of volumes of Śpiewy historyczne (Historical Songs) by Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz from libraries, this did not stop but rather encouraged new publications of the songs. It is believed that from 1816 to 1899, the book went through no fewer than 16 editions. The fifth edition of ‘Historical Songs’ was brought out by the bookshop owner and publisher Kajetan Jabłoński (1815–1896). According to Joachim Lelewel, the book was a ‘sweet monument to national deeds and virtues’. Jabłoński was very positive about its value and the need for it, and included an extensive commentary by Lelewel at the end, which discussed the book, explained its merits, and corrected some mistakes. The publisher’s brother Marcin Jabłoński (1801–1876) created the illustrations for this edition of the songs. He worked with Czech artists in the lithography workshop: some of the drawings were made by Swoboda, and some of the illustrations were lithographed in Prague by M.A. Witek.
The lithograph by Jabłoński The ducal dispute over the hand of Jadwiga illustrates a song about the beauty of the young princess, and the sacrifice she made for her homeland, for she married the elderly Lithuanian Duke Jogaila rather than her young beloved. The interior of the palace, the dress of the characters and other details are historically out of place, and do not reflect the period. The main purpose of this picture, like all the other illustrations to ‘Historical Songs’, is not to depict a historical event, but to evoke an attractive picture of the past to appeal to the imagination.

Text author Rūta Janonienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė

NIEMCEWICZ JULIAN URSYN, SPIEWY HISTORYCZNE Z MUZYKĄ I RYCINAMI, LWÓW, 1846.

Although in 1827 the Russian authorities ordered the removal of volumes of Śpiewy historyczne (Historical Songs) by Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz from libraries, this did not stop but rather encouraged new publications of the songs. It is believed that from 1816 to 1899, the book went through no fewer than 16 editions. The fifth edition of ‘Historical Songs’ was brought out by the bookshop owner and publisher Kajetan Jabłoński (1815–1896). According to Joachim Lelewel, the book was a ‘sweet monument to national deeds and virtues’. Jabłoński was very positive about its value and the need for it, and included an extensive commentary by Lelewel at the end, which discussed the book, explained its merits, and corrected some mistakes. The publisher’s brother Marcin Jabłoński (1801–1876) created the illustrations for this edition of the songs. He worked with Czech artists in the lithography workshop: some of the drawings were made by Swoboda, and some of the illustrations were lithographed in Prague by M.A. Witek.
The lithograph by Jabłoński The ducal dispute over the hand of Jadwiga illustrates a song about the beauty of the young princess, and the sacrifice she made for her homeland, for she married the elderly Lithuanian Duke Jogaila rather than her young beloved. The interior of the palace, the dress of the characters and other details are historically out of place, and do not reflect the period. The main purpose of this picture, like all the other illustrations to ‘Historical Songs’, is not to depict a historical event, but to evoke an attractive picture of the past to appeal to the imagination.

Text author Rūta Janonienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė