Izabela Czartoryska in Spain in 1856 in the Light of Family Correspondence

Abstract

Izabela Czartoryska (since 1857 Countess Dzialynski) lived with her family in Paris and, like her closest relatives, was an emigrant. She is primarily known as a collector and creator of the museum in Goluchow Castle, which she rebuilt with the help of French and Polish architects. Her numerous travels around Europe and North Africa (Middle East, Algeria) had a very important role in shaping her artistic skills and passion for collecting.

In mid-November 1856 Izabela travelled to Spain with her brother Władysław and his wife Maria Amparo Muñoz y de Borbón. In the text presented here I will first of all reconstruct the course of this tour. I place it in the context of the complicated political situation in Spain and Władysław Czartoryski’s secret diplomatic efforts under the auspices of the Lambert Hotel. I try to establish to what extent the stay of Adam Jerzy Czartoryski’s daughter in Spain influenced the development of her artistic interests. I draw attention to similarities and differences between the princess's accounts and the descriptions of other travelers. I also address the issue of Izabela's protracted marriage negotiations, which in the future would prove unsuccessful.

The article is based on the Czartoryski family correspondence, especially Izabella’s letters written in French to her mother, Princess Anna Czartoryska née Sapieha.