The Apotheosis of August II in Jan Klemens Branicki's Palace in Białystok

Abstract

King August II created an ideological programme for the House of Senators in the Warsaw Castle that was extended in the early twenties of the 18^th century. It was worked out artistically by Zachariasz Longueline. The programme, among others, provided for putting a statue of the monarch in the niche over the fireplace, and in an analogous niche opposite it a statue of Hercules. On the walls eight busts of Roman emperors were supposed to be placed on consoles. The project was opposed by the Sejm and August II's idea was not put into effect.

The basic elements of this programme can be found in the Table Hall located on the piano nobile of Jan Klemens Branicki's palace in Białystok: over the fireplace a great portrait of August II was hung, in the niche opposite a statue of Hercules killing the hydra was standing, on the walls there were eight busts of Roman emperors on consoles. The aim of this decoration was the apotheosis of King August II sub allegoria Herculi. It was probably made in the thirties of the 18^th century. Today it is not in existence (only the stucco decoration from the conch of the Hercules niche has been preserved). It is only known from the old inventories of the palace and references in 18^th century correspondence.

Maybe the author of the ideological programme of the Table Hall in the Białystok palace, or at least its initiator, was August II. He was hosted in Białystok by Branicki a few times when he travelled to the nearby Grodno to attend Sejm debates. In the winter of 1726/27 the monarch spent two months in the Branickis' palace because of his serious illness.

The programme of the Table Hall in Białystok apotheotising Hercules Saxonicus was then continued by J. K. Branicki in a considerably extended palace. However, its aim was to glorify the host of the palace, Branicki, who already dreamt of the Polish crown for himself.