Środowisko artystyczne w Białej Podlaskiej pod rządami Hieronima Floriana Radziwiłła : malarze i rzeźbiarze

ENThe article presents the community of artists in Biała Podlaska under Prince Hieronim Florian Radziwiłł (1747–1760). The text focuses on the problem of artists’ origin, their cultural identity, and also characterizes their social and professional life. The study discloses social and cultural differences between the artists of various origins, and describes their coexistence and interactions. A large number of the artists working for Prince Radziwiłł at Biała Podlaska were local residents and have already been mentioned in the city documents during the rule of Anna Katarzyna Radziwiłłowa née Sanguszko. When local artists were unable to satisfy the artistic ideas of Prince Radziwiłł, he looked for new artists in Warsaw, Gdańsk (Danzig), Königsberg, Dresden, Berlin, and Vienna. Germans predominated among foreigners who were invited to the court. Newcomers often showed greater artistic excellence and enjoyed a higher status in comparison to local artists. Prince Radziwiłł succeeded in keeping foreigners at his court for a number of years, and the foreign artists – through the teaching of local ones – extended their professional influence. On the other hand, the foreigners adjusted themselves to the needs of the prince and adapted some local practices. Thus, the practices and social life of artists of different origins became similar. [From the publication]