Unknown Artist - 18th/19th Century - Stanisław August Poniatowski - Portrait, Miniature, KINGS OF POLAND, MINIATURES, THE STANISŁAW PERIOD

An oval portrait miniature depicting Stanisław August Poniatowski (1732–1798), the last King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. The monarch is shown in a half-length portrait, turned slightly to the left, wearing a powdered wig, a dark navy blue uniform with epaulets, and the blue ribbon of the Order of the White Eagle. The composition draws on a common type of official royal portrait, derived from court depictions and frequently reproduced by painters and miniaturists.
The work was likely executed in watercolor and gouache on bone, mounted under glass. There is no visible artist’s signature.
The miniature is set in an ornate, openwork metal frame with a gilded surface. The frame features rich ornamental decoration, with rocaille, shell, and plant motifs, in a historicizing Neorococo style. On the reverse, there is a metal ring for hanging and a secondary paper protective layer.
Stanisław August Poniatowski was born in 1732 in Wołczyn and died in 1798 in St. Petersburg. He reigned from 1764 to 1795. He was a patron of the arts, science, and education, the initiator of the “Thursday Dinners,” and a protector of numerous cultural endeavors. During his reign, the School of Chivalry and the Commission of National Education were established, and the Constitution of May 3 was adopted. Following the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, he abdicated on November 25, 1795.
Miniature dimensions: 6 × 4.8 cm.
Frame dimensions: 12.5 × 10.5 cm.
Condition: as shown in the photos.